With a further 189 built by the registered social landlord (RSL) sector, the total additional homes delivered is 551 - approximately a third of which are specifically adapted to suit a variety of needs.

And, despite the challenges experienced during both Covid-19 lockdown periods, the council remains on track to achieve the objectives of its HOME+ programme.

The figures were delivered in a report to the Housing and Technical Resources committee updating councillors on the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP).

The SHIP is a five-year rolling plan that links the priorities identified in South Lanarkshire’s Local Housing Strategy (LHS) and guides the allocation of available Scottish Government investment funding to a plan to deliver additional affordable housing.

With this in mind, members were also asked to approve a SHIP for 2023-28 which includes projects with a potential capacity for delivering up to 2,562 affordable homes in South Lanarkshire over the five-year period to March 2028.

Chair of the committee, Councillor Davie McLachlan, said: “The SHIP, and indeed our own Home+ programme, have a broad remit and an ambition to help transform lives through the provision of affordable, accessible, and safe homes.

“Given the undoubted challenges of the last few years, the continuing success in that area, as reported to us at the meeting, is an indicator of the hard work and commitment of all involved.

“Having an annual update coming in front of the committee is also a beneficial way to ensure we stay on course while giving us the chance to record and share important milestones on the journey to date.

“I am delighted to oversee the approval of the next rolling phase of the SHIP 2023-28 which again underlines our ongoing commitment to making sure that we improve our ability to meet the housing needs of the diverse communities of South Lanarkshire.”

Among the key successes of the SHIP 2022-27 was the expansion of the council’s Open Market Purchase Scheme (OMPS) which is helping to meet specific and urgent housing needs and achieve wider housing quality improvement and regeneration priorities. In 2021/2022 53 homes were purchased through the scheme and a further 60 have been budgeted for acquisition during 2022/23.