Work has started on 75 new affordable homes on two sites in West Dunbartonshire.

Cube Housing Association is building 44 flats for social rent on the site of the old Bonhill Primary which closed in 2010.

And in Carrick Terrace in Dumbarton a further 31 Cube homes for social rent, together with new premises for a local shop, are starting to take shape on the site of old tenement flats.

Cube tenant and board member, Jennifer Williamson, was joined by West Dunbartonshire Council’s housing and communities convener Diane Docherty to mark the start of the work at the £4.5m Bonhill development in Main Street.

Cube board member Jennifer Williamson said: “We are delighted to be bringing the site of the old Bonhill Primary back into good use for the community by providing these much-needed affordable homes.

“This development, and the one we’ve also started at Carrick Terrace, are just part of our plans at Cube to build 520 affordable homes in West Dunbartonshire in partnership with the council.”

The Bonhill homes, a mix of one and two bedroom flats, are being built by contractor Keepmoat and funded through a £2million Scottish Government grant and private investment secured through Cube’s parent company Wheatley Group.

The land, occupied by Bonhill Primary until 2010 when pupils moved to a new school nearby, was sold to Cube by the council for £1.

The £3.5m development at Carrick Terrace will see a mix of one, two and three bedroom flats and terraced homes. They are being built by contractor Cruden Building & Renewals and are also funded by Scottish Government grant and private investment secured by Wheatley.

Both sites are being developed as part of Cube Housing Association’s Strategic Partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council.

Councillor Diane Docherty, West Dunbartonshire Council’s convener of housing and communities, said: “This council has very ambitious plans to build 1000 affordable homes in the next five years, and that wouldn’t be possible without the partnerships we have built with housing associations.

"I’m delighted that work has begun on this particular development, which will provide excellent housing options for Bonhill.”

Councillor Iain McLaren, vice convener of housing and communities, added: “This site, as well as Cube’s other development in Carrick Terrace in Dumbarton, is a vital part of our ambitions to provide a range of desirable, affordable homes.

"As a resident of West Dumbarton, I very much look forward to seeing the progress going forward.”

The homes on both sites are due to be finished by the end of 2018.