NEW SOCIAL HOUSING BOOST FOR BO'NESS
Bo'ness is set to welcome a major new housing development as
Weslo Housing Management releases 16 two-bedroom
flats available for social rent and six for market rent.
The social rented properties will be made available to applicants
on Falkirk Council's housing list
as part of an initiative at The Westway Apartments, 191-199
Corbiehall which will have mix of a social rented, market rented
and owner occupied homes in the town centre.
Weslo Housing Management has purchased the properties from town
centre developers ING Real Estate as part of a
wider Scottish Government initiative and will have responsibility
for the management the properties.
Cllr Jim Blackwood, Convener of Housing and Social
Care said: "This is a great opportunity to turn the
current economic situation to our advantage and be able to offer
these properties to housing list applicants. Weslo's experience in
managing tenancies and their local presence in Bo'ness will mean
that people can be assured of a high level of support and
service."
Weslo's Chief Executive, Mike Bruce said: "We are
absolutely delighted to complete this deal with ING. Together with
existing owners already living in the beautifully renovated
development, we have the opportunity to put in place a new,
balanced mix of tenures throughout the blocks, managed by a local
landlord.
"We plan to meet with all our new tenants and the existing owners
in order to introduce ourselves and discuss the standard of
services we will be providing. Our Bo'ness Manager, Susan Anderson
and her staff will begin this process shortly."
The properties were originally included as part of the wider
Bo'ness Town Centre Regeneration Initiative and were seen as a way
of helping to kick start the regeneration of the town in 2004. Due
to the economic downturn however, few sales were forthcoming and an
agreement has been reached for the transfer of the vacant
properties to Weslo Housing Management.