HUNDREDS of housing association properties are to be built on 16 sites across the city.

The city council has decided to dispose of land it owns to allow more social housing to be built.

Areas to benefit include Baillieston, Barlanark, Bridgeton, Castlemilk, Cranhill, Drumchapel, Easterhouse, Kelvinbridge, Milton, Partick, Pollokshaws, Royston, Shettleston and Springburn.

The council will negotiate with a number of housing association about the disposal of the sites, some of which are cleared and some of which still have buildings that need to be demolished.

Around 750 new homes will be built on the sites and it is expected their construction will result in £60million of economic activity.

City council leader Frank McAveety said: "This is fantastic news for the city, providing social housing in communities all across Glasgow as these sites are developed.

"The council's decision will help to deliver the new homes that we need as our population increases and changes and also make a £60m boost to Glasgow's economy. This work will also create new jobs in the construction industry."

Wheatley Group director of property and development Tom Barclay said: “One of our priorities at Wheatley is helping increase the supply of affording housing in our communities in Glasgow.

"Releasing further sites that we, and other housing associations, can build on is key to this and we look forward to continuing to work with Glasgow City Council, as well as the Scottish Government, on tackling the shortage of homes for social rent.”

The news comes after the Evening Times reported last month how dozens of new homes for rent are being built in one of the city's most deprived areas.

Work has got under way on a £7.4million social housing project in Milton which will create 70 flats and terraced houses.

Cube Housing Association, part of Wheatley Group, is behind the development, which will be sited on empty land in Liddesdale Road and constructed by City Building.

The homes will range from one-bedroom flats to three-bedroom houses and are due to be finished by spring 2018.

They will include 19 amenity flats specially adapted for older people and nine for wheelchair users and are the first to be built in the community since 2001.

Catherine Lowe, Cube vice chair, said: "Milton is a great community but we know from listening to local people that there is a shortage of quality, affordable homes for rent.

"The 70 new homes we're building for older people and for families in this first phase will provide the kind of housing people have told us they want.

"But this will be just the start. "By working with our partners in Wheatley and Glasgow City Council we're playing a part in what will be a major transformation of the community over the next few years."

Future phases of the regeneration project in Milton will see Glasgow Housing Association demolish tenements and, subject to planning and grant approval, build 54 energy-efficient new homes for social rent in Cathay Street and a further 50 homes for mid-market rent on Scaraway Street.

GHA and Cube are also upgrading and modernising their existing homes in the area with GHA carrying out £9m of improvements over the next five years. Cube will also be installing new kitchens and showers in its homes in the area.