FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has praised work to improve living conditions in Govanhill.

Ms Sturgeon spoke as council and housing bosses revealed the latest figures from a four-year scheme to regenerate the South West of the area.

At the Govanhill Regeneration Group Meeting, it was announced that 361 new build properties are to be delivered in the area at a cost of £51 million.

It was just one of several figures presented by Duncan Thomson, of the council's Department of Regeneration Services, and Ken MacDougall, of Govanhill Housing Association (GHHA).

The SW Govanhill Property Acquisition & Repair programme began as a pilot in four tenement blocks, running from 2015 to 2017.

Now a four-year programme in 18 tenement blocks, which began in 2017, is nearing the end of its second year.

As part of the scheme, GHHA could buy properties in the area from homeowners.

Mr Thomson said lessons learned using powers given by deeming the area an Enhanced Enforcement Area (EEA) will help shape public policy to be used across Scotland.

He added: "Property acquisition in the area has slowed down but I would be disappointed if we were still buying up at the same rate because that would indicate there are people desperate to get out of the area but actually that rate is slowing down.

"There's not the volume of people now who want to sell.

"We will still be looking at acquisitions but that is not our main focus.

"We are now also looking at landlords who don't have sufficient information to be a landlord.

"Social lettings provider where the landlord wants to continue as a landlord but doesn't want to manage the property, we can put them in touch with a social lettings provider who will do that on their behalf to meet the necessary standards.

"The proof in the pudding is the perception in the area so we plan to put out a survey in the area to see if we are changing people's perceptions."

Figures also show: *231 closes factored or management agent in place with only 13 still to be factored.

*A total of 339 private lets have now been inspected within the designated EEAs.

*A total of 359 landlords have been instructed to provide necessary documentation/certification.

*24 private landlords now accredited.

*26 private landlords have had their registration refused or revoked.

*There have been 290 property acquisitions.

*54 additional closes brought into factoring control

Plans are also underway for comprehensive Major Repairs to 19 Garturk Street and 119 Bowman Street with 14 Westmoreland Street, expected to begin in March.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I think the progress of the enhanced enforcement area has been really, really good and I think the thing we shouldn't lose sight of is the importance of getting the properties back to the housing association.

"If we cast our mind back to three years ago then that was the bit that we didn't get right, that wasn't got right at the time.

"It wasn't sustainable.

"The factoring here is probably the single most important thing for making the improvements to the area."