WORK on a multi-million pound project to build more than 300 new homes in Barrhead will begin within the next few weeks.

Taylor Wimpey West Scotland confirmed it has sealed a deal to buy land off Springfield Road and Springhill Road, where a total of 316 properties will be built.

The site consists of former agricultural land at Netherton Farm and forms part of the Barrhead South Masterplan.

A range of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes will be built, as well as 25 new homes for social rent in the form of cottage flats, semi-detached and terraced homes.

There will also be two play areas and new landscaping.

And, as part of a legal agreement with East Renfrewshire Council, the development will deliver a range of community benefits, including financial contributions of more than £2million towards the costs of education, community facilities, parks, open spaces and the Dams to Darnley Country Park.

This funding will also go towards providing sustainable transport links and a commuted sum for affordable housing within East Renfrewshire.

Developers have said they will retain a “great variety of the existing local features.”

These include the ecologically-rich amenity space around Spierston Burn, which flows through the middle of the site, and the existing Johnny Blue’s Well, off Springfield Road.

Caroline Proctor, land and planning director for Taylor Wimpey West Scotland, told the Barrhead News: “We are very pleased to have acquired the land at Springfield Road and Springhill Road and to now be gearing up for our operation to start construction of our first development in Barrhead.

“This key development cements our commitment to the wider East Renfrewshire area.

“As well as an impressive range of new homes, our development will provide a range of economic benefits for the local Barrhead area, which includes supporting in the region of around 50 direct and indirect jobs per year of development, as well as the attraction of new customers to local businesses.

“We believe this development will be a great addition to the local area and it complements our other local developments at nearby Neilston and Maidenhill.

“Pre-construction works will begin in the next few weeks.”

The new development at Netherton Farm is just the latest in a series of projects that are bringing more homes to Barrhead.

Both Miller Homes and Avanti Homes already have major housebuilding developments ongoing in the Aurs Road area.

There are further details of the new housing development available online here.