Affordable housing developer Lovell is set to design and build 221 new council homes for North Lanarkshire Council and West Lothian Council at a combined value of £23.61 million.

North Lanarkshire Council is set to appoint Lovell to deliver three new developments, with a total value of £6.19m in Cumbernauld and Harthill. Construction work on 51 new cottage flats, houses and bungalows – which are all for social rent - is due to start in spring 2016 with the developments expected to be complete by spring 2017.

West Lothian Council has awarded the firm a £17.42m design-and-build contract to deliver 170 new council homes. Work is set to start in early 2016 on the new housing – comprising cottage flats, houses and bungalows – at seven sites in East Calder, Livingston, Armadale and Linlithgow. The new homes, which are all for social rent, are expected to be finished by the middle of 2017.

Both schemes will create job and training opportunities locally including apprenticeship training, jobs and work experience placements.

“We have been working successfully with both West Lothian and North Lanarkshire councils for a number of years helping deliver their major new-build housing programme,” said Lovell regional director Alan Taylor.

“We are delighted to have been selected for these latest schemes which will provide much-needed high-quality social homes for local residents, as well as valuable training and job opportunities. Leaving a lasting legacy of benefits for the whole community is a key element of our commitment to the neighbourhoods where we work.”