An updated Asset Management Strategy and General Services Capital Programme up to 2027/28 has been approved, which will see £83.7 million invested during 2022/23 to support the delivery of essential services and a total investment of over £223m over the next six years.

Education

Around £62.6m will be invested in property during 2022/23, the majority being spent improving West Lothian’s school estate, with further investment set to include £9.8m on roads and £6.1m on open spaces, as well as £5.2m on information and communication technology, with the majority of investment in schools.

Leader of West Lothian Council Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: “It’s essential that we have the right facilities and equipment in place to allow our dedicated staff to deliver the essential services that people, and our children, rely on.

“This ambitious capital budget will see us invest our limited resources wisely to achieve the maximum benefits for local residents.

“The majority of our investment remains in school and education, providing a high-quality school estate as a platform for learning across early years, primary, secondary and additional support needs. 

“With one of the best school estates in the country, which has added to rising attainment by pupils. We hope this approach will benefit West Lothian for generations to come.”

The investment in property includes the completion of the £62m project to deliver three brand new schools, two secondary and one primary, in the core development area of Winchburgh.

The £26.5m investment programme in schools dedicated to supporting pupils with additional support needs is one of the most ambitious in Scotland, with the brand new £7.5m Cedarbank school in Livingston and the £5.8m extension for Pinewood in Blackburn opening and construction starting on the £14.7m replacement for Beatlie Campus in Livingston.

Extensions are also planned for primary schools including St Paul’s in East Calder, Livingston Village, Pumpherston and Uphall Station to meet growing demand, along with a wide range of planned improvements including new roofs, new windows and electrical and mechanical upgrades.

Significant refurbishments are planned for a number of schools including Deans Primary in Livingston, Eastertoun Primary in Armadale, St Joseph’s Primary in Whitburn and Woodlands Nursery in Livingston. 

Other major capital investments by the council include roof replacement work at Whitburn Community Centre and the Lanthorn Community Centre in Livingston; the Cawburn Complex Care Development in Pumpherston and a proposed new Single Person Homeless Accommodation and Assessment Centre.

Roads

This year’s road investment programme includes significant upgrade projects on the A89 between Dechmont and the Kilpunt Roundabout; B9080 and U18 in Winchburgh; Edinburgh Road and Standhill Road in Bathgate; Eldrick Avenue and Crescent in Fauldhouse; Gleneagles Court in Whitburn; Northfield Crescent and Terrace in Longridge; and Station Road in Armadale.

The council also plans to spend during 2022/23: £3.5m to improve recycling; £2.2m for open spaces and sports facilities; £1.5m to maintain bridges; £1.6m for town centres and £429,000 for children’s play areas.

Housing

West Lothian Council has also revealed it will spend over £40m over the coming financial year to improve existing council housing and increase the number of available council properties.

The Housing Capital Investment Programme (2022-23) was approved at a council meeting yesterday alongside the approval of the Housing Revenue Account Budget for the same period. The capital programme will see nearly £25m invested to increase the social housing supply.

With the council working in conjunction with Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and partners, over 2,300 affordable homes have been delivered across West Lothian since the beginning of 2012.

By March 2023, a further 180 new homes will be completed across a range of sites and areas including 69 at West Calder, 42 homes at Livingston, and another 59 new homes will be built at Bathgate.

Resources for the acquisition of former council houses through the Open Market Acquisitions Scheme will continue to be incorporated into the programme, as the council continues to look at expanding the housing supply working RSLs. 

Other elements of the budget include:

• £16m to improve and maintain existing housing, ensuring council homes continue to meet the Scottish Quality Housing Standard.
• £3.8m to support a broad range of activities including decoration and internal upgrades, window and door refurbishments, painting and fencing programmes.
• £3.6m invested in six individual major elemental upgrade projects consisting of long-term maintenance work, where structural elements such as roof and external walls are beyond economical repair by routine maintenance.
• £561,000, will continue on general environmental improvements and external upgrading, including tenant led street improvement projects. These small-scale projects will have a substantial impact on local amenities and the community.
• The council’s Community Choices, Participatory Budgeting exercise which will help local communities decide how this resource will be used.
• £7.3m to be spent on external wall insulation upgrades, central heating upgrades and asbestos removal.

A continuation of the rent increase of 3% per annum for council homes and garages has also been approved by West Lothian Council as part of its Housing Revenue Account Budget. The council said this decision has been informed following consultation with the West Lothian Tenants Panel which indicated that the majority of responses supported a 3% rent increase per annum which remains in line with the Scottish average.

Executive councillor for services for the community, George Paul, said: “West Lothian Council continues to invest in providing a high-quality social housing service for local people.”