Linlithgow is a priority for council-led housing projects

But funding restrictions means the ever growing demand will never be fully met – either in the town or elsewhere in the county – even with the partnership of Registered Social Landlords such as housing associations.

Along with Livingston, Linlithgow remains a high demand area for new social housing as the council prepares its latest Strategic Housing Investment Plan.

Councillors on the Housing Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel heard details of the plan from housing officer Gillian Edwards.

She said: “It is an opportunity for us to set out key investment priorities for affordable housing and it demonstrates how these will be delivered.

“It’s something the Scottish Government requires annually and it sets the resources which help deliver these priorities and those of our partners. Delivered annually, it looks forward for the next five years.

“Currently our priorities are to look at our council projects in high demand areas such as Livingston and Linlithgow, and we are hoping to progress more development in the Core Development Areas where we have had a lot of success already, mostly in Winchburgh and Calderwood in East Calder. We want to develop those projects already committed.”

West Lothian Council has prioritised four developments for council housing in Livingston and Linlithgow which will increase its housing stock by at least 128 units.

The bulk of these will be in Livingston; in Linlithgow, work on 15 new council homes at Deanburn is planned to start next year.

Current sites under construction in the north-east of the county include 100 homes for Wheatley Homes East and Home Group, two of the partner RSLs in Winchburgh.

Sites for more than 2173 homes have been identified, with funding commitments for only 161. Other provision will come from open market acquisition – buy back of former council homes. A further 270 homes for special housing have also been identified.

There has been an 11 per cent cut in funding for new builds in the next year and no financial commitment from the Scottish Government beyond 2025/26.