PLANS to build 5500 new homes across the country by 2026 have been revealed.

Wheatley, a housing, care and property-management group, will carry out one of the largest affordable house-building programmes in the UK over the next five years.

New homes will be a mix of social housing and mid-market rent.

Work is currently underway to build 1229 homes on 25 sites – with 16 more sites in development.

Almost 700 new homes are due to be completed this year.

These sites include 48 Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) homes in Kennishead and 58 Loretto Housing homes in Bishopton.

Tom Barclay, Wheatley Group director of property and development, said: “We’re delighted with the progress of our new-build programme, especially during one of the most challenging years for the construction industry.

“Our continued investment in affordable housing allows us to make a real contribution to housing at a national level.

“This type of investment is only possible due to our size and scale and by working with our strategic partners, including local authorities and the Scottish Government.

“Our new-build programme has already made a real and lasting difference to communities all over Scotland, and the new homes we’re building will help transform the lives of those who live in them.”

Wheatley has already built more than 4000 homes in the last five years.

Despite the lockdown restrictions on the construction industry caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, last year Wheatley completed 413 new homes across the country – with 329 of these for social rent and 84 for mid-market rent.