The boost to the city’s socially rented and low cost home ownership accommodation is part of the £83 million Housing Development Funding Programme administered by the Council for use by the Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), normally housing associations or housing cooperatives.

The programme, covering financial year 2008/2009, will see 950 hew homes built for rent and a further 390 built for ownership via the New Supply Shared Equity Scheme (formerly Homestake), a scheme run by RSLs to help people on low incomes own their home.

With limited resources approved projects have concentrated on groups with particular needs including those that require wheelchair access, units for the elderly, homeless, people with support needs and accommodation for large families. In addition providing houses that people on low incomes can afford to buy and own has also been a key element of this programme.

Some 465 of the housing units approved for funding form what is known as the Re-provisioning Programme, catering for people displaced by Glasgow Housing Association’s ongoing demolition and building programme.

Another 861 housing units will come from the Core Programme or main budget totalling £50m.

Projects from the Core Programme are spread across the city with one of the biggest being an 80 house development at the junction of Dunn Street, Reid Street and Rumford Street in Dalmarnock.

Other projects include a 42 unit development by Queens Cross Housing Association (HA) at Murano Street in Ruchill; 29 unit development by Sanctuary Scotland at Lymburn Street and Argyle Street; 22 unit development by Southside HA at St. Andrew’s Road near Pollokshields and three projects from Elderpark HA totalling 29 housing units around Govan.

A number of the proposed developments will occupy vacant and derelict sites bringing this land back into productive use and focusing resources on regenerating these parts of the city.

Councillors have also agreed a ‘Shadow Programme’ of projects involving 409 houses, that will be progressed through the design and planning stages and will be in a position to proceed should additional resources become available.

George Ryan, Executive Member for Development and Regeneration, said: “As the city’s strategic housing authority, Glasgow City Council has responsibility for shaping the future of housing provision within the city, amongst all tenures.

“The Council’s housing strategy aims to offer Glasgow’s residents a choice when it comes to socially rented accommodation and home ownership and with the housing market as it is I’m pleased that through the Development Funding Programme we are able to offer a substantial number of new affordable homes for rent and low cost home ownership.”