Contractor AS Homes began work this week and will deliver 15 two-bed houses, 8 three-bed houses and 2 four-bed houses. The project, which received over £2.6m from the Scottish Government, is expected to be completed by August 2025.

Cordale, which joined as subsidiary of Caledonia Housing Association (CHA) in 2013, will provide much needed high quality, energy efficient and sustainable homes in the areas.

The Cordale Committee, CHA’s chief executive and the local Renton team visited the site to mark the beginning of works. They also welcomed Dame Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton and convener of Housing and Communities, Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, from West Dunbartonshire Council.

Martin Walker, chair, Cordale Housing Association, said: “It has been a long-term vision of the Cordale Committee to develop homes and help transform the Dalquhurn area. We currently provide over 500 high quality social homes in Renton, and I am thrilled to see us creating a fantastic new development for the community. I want to thank the whole team in getting the project underway.”

Julie Cosgrove, chief executive of Caledonia Housing Association, added: “Today marks the beginning of a significant project at Dalquhurn. The development is something we have been committed to for a number of years and it is excellent to see it now coming to fruition. I would also like to recognise the support that we have had from West Dunbartonshire Council and Scottish Government to make this development a reality.

“I am delighted that so many of our local partners have joined us to celebrate the start of it. I look forward to continuing to work closely with our local partners and the community in the months ahead.”

Jackie Baillie MSP said: “I am absolutely delighted that Cordale Housing is able to start work on a new-build development of much-needed homes for the socially-rented sector. There is a desperate shortage of social housing available and the Scottish Government recently followed West Dunbartonshire Council in declaring a housing emergency.

Unfortunately, housing associations like Caledonia have been hampered in building more homes by reductions in funding from the Scottish Government. Many more developments of new homes for social rent are needed to meet demand and I commend Caledonia Housing Association for pushing on, in the face of adversity, to deliver for local tenants.”

Paul Kelly, managing director of AS Homes Scotland, said: “Our partnership with Cordale Housing Association will deliver high-quality, thoughtfully designed homes to benefit the Renton community for years to come. AS Homes is dedicated to building homes that have sustainability and longevity at their core, working with our partners to create new communities that continue to meet the changing needs of local people.”

Convener of Housing and Communities, Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal from West Dunbartonshire Council, said: “I am delighted that work has begun to develop more sustainable, affordable homes in West Dunbartonshire at a time when properties like this are much needed.”

Minister for housing Paul McLennan said: “I am pleased that Cordale Housing Association has started work on 25 new social rented homes at Dalquhurn, backed by over £2m of Scottish Government funding. Everyone deserves a warm and safe place to call home and these homes in Renton, West Dunbartonshire, will help to meet the needs of the local community for generations to come.

“We have a strong track record in housebuilding by supporting the delivery of more than 133,000 affordable homes since 2007, with more than 94,000 of those being for social rent. We remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes across Scotland by 2032 with at least 70% for social rent and 10% in our rural and island communities, backed by almost £600m of investment this year.”