MORE than £50million will be put towards Renfrewshire housing after councillors voted for the investment in its budget plans.

A total of £53.9m will go into creating new-build homes, regeneration and maintaining existing council properties as part of Renfrewshire’s Housing Capital Investment Plan 2018/19 to 2020/21.

The council will pump £15.4m into the project this year, followed by £18.7m next year and £19.7m in 2020/21.

It will help to improve the level of housing and advance a commitment to provide 1,000 new, affordable houses by 2021.

Planned investment programmes include improvements to the outside of council houses and upgraded kitchens and bathrooms.

There is also provision for new-build investment in affordable social housing in Johnstone Castle and at Dargavel Village, in Bishopton.

Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire’s communities, housing and planning policy board, said: “We are committed to providing high-quality, affordable homes that will encourage people to live in Renfrewshire.

“This investment will ensure we can provide communities with homes that are the right type and size and in the right place to meet their needs.”