The housing, care and property management group will build 5,500 new homes, a mix of social housing and mid-market rent, across Scotland by 2026.

Wheatley, which was named the UK’s largest builder of social-rented homes for four years in a row, has already built more than 4,000 homes in the last five years.

Despite the lockdown restrictions on the construction industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, last year Wheatley completed 413 new homes in Glasgow, West Lothian, West Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh and Dumfries & Galloway – with 329 homes for social rent and 84 for mid-market rent.

Tom Barclay, Wheatley Group director of property and development, said: “We’re delighted with the progress of our new-build programme, especially during one of the most challenging years for the construction industry.

“Our continued investment in affordable housing allows us to make a real contribution to housing at a national level. This type of investment is only possible due to our size and scale and by working with our strategic partners, including local authorities and the Scottish Government.

“Our new-build programme has already made a real and lasting difference to communities all over Scotland, and the new homes we’re building will help transform the lives of those who live in them.”

Work is currently underway to build 1229 homes on 25 sites – with 16 more sites in development.

Almost 700 new homes are due to be completed this year across south and central Scotland, from Glasgow to Dumfries, Edinburgh to Clydebank and Livingston to Stranraer.

These sites include 146 West Lothian Housing Partnership (WLHP) homes in Almondvale, Livingston; 48 Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) homes in Kennishead, Glasgow, and 58 Loretto Housing homes in Bishopton.

At West Craigs in Edinburgh, Dunedin Canmore will start work this autumn on Wheatley’s largest new-build project, which will see more than 300 homes built over the next five years.

In the initial phases, 168 homes will be built for social rented housing, with plans for a further 132 for mid-market rent, to be let and managed by Lowther, also part of Wheatley Group.

DGHP is currently on-site building 74 homes, with plans for 800 social rent homes over the next five years.

The 5,500 new houses and flats announced by Wheatley include properties built to wheelchair standard and accommodation to help older people live independently for longer in their own homes.