West Lothian Council has appointed local affordable housing developer Lovell for three new contracts totalling more than £38m.

The schemes will see Lovell deliver 443 new council homes as part of the authority's major new-build housing programme.

Lovell will build 195 homes at sites in Wester Inch, Bathgate; Redhouse West, Blackburn and in Pumpherston. The three schemes – with a combined value of £17.5m – will provide a mix of cottage flats, houses and bungalows and are set to be completed in December 2016.

The company will also build 230 new homes in an £18.1m development on land at Kirkhill, Broxburn, which is due for completion by April 2017. The new homes will again feature a mix of cottage flats, houses and bungalows.

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In addition, Lovell has just started work on an 18-home redevelopment of the former Broxburn Primary School. The scheme is set to be finished in summer 2015.

All 443 new council homes will be for social rent. The contracts have been awarded to Lovell through a competitive tendering process and will create significant training and job opportunities locally providing 16 construction apprenticeships; 18 additional trainee jobs; four graduate jobs and 41 work placements giving people in education the opportunity to gain construction industry experience.

Executive Councillor for services for the community, George Paul commented: "We're delighted to reach this stage in the process which will see 443 new homes being built across West Lothian.

"West Lothian Council are committed to providing new, affordable homes across the county and we are very proud of our track record in delivering new homes for the residents of West Lothian."

(CD/JP)