Progress is being made towards restarting work on a project to deliver Supported Housing for Young People and additional affordable housing in Livingston.
Work was paused on the project at Almondvale Crescent being delivered by Hub South East, on behalf of West Lothian Council, following the financial administration of Connect Modular, the main construction contractor appointed by Hub South East.
An update to an upcoming meeting of West Lothian Council Executive will report that council officers have been working with Hub South East to resume works as quickly as possible and minimise any delay to the project as a result of the Hub South East’s contractor ceasing to trade.
Hub South East are engaging with alternative contractors and it is hoped a replacement contractor is soon to be appointed to finish the remaining construction elements of the project allowing the project to progress towards completion.
An announcement on the appointed contractor and next steps for completion of the project will be provided in due course.
A council spokesperson said: “Plans for the supported housing consists of 28 one-bedroom flats in total, with 16 flats designed to be flexible for future use as mainstream housing.
“Flexible office space will be provided for a maximum of ten staff members along with staff overnight accommodation to provide dedicated space and privacy, whilst still being on hand to assist and support the young people.
“The affordable housing element of the project will provide 20 units with a mix of two and three-bedroom houses, along with two or three-bedroom flats.
“This news will feature as part of monitoring report updating on the council’s Housing Capital Investment Programme for 2024/25.
“The report highlights good progress on the 2024/25 Housing capital programme with construction work progressing on three new build sites – Houston Road and Simpson Parkway in Livingston as well as Deanburn in Linlithgow.
“This will see an additional 80 homes added to the council’s social housing stock by summer 2026. Construction work is also well underway at Winchburgh Grange, which will provide 16 new two-bedroom flats in summer 2025.”
Significant investment is also being made in the housing stock to both improve the overall standard of the stock, meet energy efficiency standards and to increase the number of available houses for West Lothian residents.
Don’t miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here.