Communities in Cornton, Cultenhove, Raploch and in a number of rural settlements will all benefit from the creation of more social rented houses, while affordable housing will also be provided as part of the new communities at South Stirling Gateway and Durieshill.

The plans are part of the council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) which was approved yesterday by the environment & housing committee. This will include £45 million of Scottish Government funding to deliver the housing programme up to 2023.

The SHIP has been prepared in consultation with local housing associations and other delivery partners, and sets out the council’s strategic investment priorities for affordable housing over the next five years.

Housing portfolio holder, Councillor Evelyn Tweed, said: “The delivery of these projects will generate a number of benefits to the local economy, create jobs and training opportunities in the construction sector and bring in additional Council Tax revenue to help fund the delivery of essential services for the residents of Stirling.

“It’s one of this administration’s key priorities to provide more social rented housing and the programme will result in an increased supply of good-quality, energy-efficient, affordable housing which helps address identified housing needs throughout the area.

“The Scottish Government has committed to delivering at least 50,000 affordable homes in the current parliament and, working with our Housing Association partners, I want to ensure that we do everything we can to help meet that ambitious target.”

Almost a quarter of the homes will come from a partnership proposal with Robertson Group as part of the Raploch Regeneration Initiative to deliver 166 new social rented homes by 2022.

The SHIP also includes the delivery of new properties at Howlands Road, Cultenhove, and at Johnston Avenue, Cornton, with both projects being taken forward by Forth Housing Association.

The SHIP reflects one the council’s main priorities of investing in the pressured rural areas, and includes plans by Rural Stirling Housing Association to take forward projects at Balmaha Plantation and Claish Farm in Callander.