MAJOR plans to deliver more than 600 homes for social rent have been backed by council chiefs.

East Renfrewshire Council’s cabinet members approved proposals which lay out how affordable housing will be provided across the area between 2020 and 2025.

The plan includes building 561 social rented houses and the purchase of 50 homes for social rent to support the council’s new build projects.

It is based on funding from the Scottish Government’s affordable housing supply programme and will see the authority work with social landlords and private developers.

The programme aims to deliver 50,000 affordable homes by 2021, with East Renfrewshire set to receive £6.3m of funding in 2019/20 and £6.7m in 2020/21.

Councillor Danny Devlin, housing and maintenance services convener, said: “The approval of our plan is good news for the people of East Renfrewshire.

“It highlights our ongoing commitment to the delivery of more homes for social rent, including our own new council homes, and ensuring that those with a range of needs will be provided with a safe and accessible home.

“Our new build housing programme has been a fantastic achievement with families, those facing homelessness, and tenants requiring adaptions moving into their brand new homes in Barrhead. I look forward to seeing this ambitious project continue.”

Since works began in 2018, 45 three-bed homes and one-bed flats, including fully adapted wheelchair flats, have been completed and are now home to families, elderly and those who faced homelessness.

The scheme, know as the strategic housing investment plan, will run beyond the government funding currently announced.

“However, Scottish Government guidance advises that councils should plan for funding to continue at the 2019 funding level,” a report to cabinet members revealed.

The council will prioritise developments with the “greatest certainty over timing and deliver-ability”.

Now the plans have been submitted, the government will set out the agreed projects to be funded in East Renfrewshire over the next three years.