WORK has started on a new and long-awaited multi-million housing development in Port Glasgow.

Twenty new energy efficient homes — a mix of semi-detached and cottage flats — are being built in Woodhall Terrace after housing association River Clyde Homes received £1.24m in funding from the Scottish Government.

The one, two and three bedroom homes are expected to be completed by next year.

Nicole Hill — who lives nearby with her two sons Kristopher, five, and Jay, two — will be moving in to one of the newly built properties.

The mum said: “The boys are really excited about moving.

“Every day they have been looking out of the window to watch their new home being built.” Alan Duncan, a board member at River Clyde Homes, is pleased that the project is underway.

He said: “In these difficult economic times we are pleased to have received funding from the Scottish Government that allows this development of quality homes to go ahead.

“We have worked closely with those remaining tenants in the Lower Woodhall area on the project.

“As with other new build developments in Inverclyde we have worked with Strathclyde Police to integrate a number of security and safety features in line with the Safer by Design initiative.” The homes, which have been designed by Barham Glen Architects and are being constructed by CCG, will also have wheelchair access and on-site parking.

Council leader Stephen McCabe today welcomed the development.

He said: “I am delighted to see that work has started on phase two of the Woodhall new build programme.

“These 20 new homes will be available to the Woodhall residents who were not allocated a new house in phase one. I am sure that they will be even more delighted that work has finally started on their new homes.

“I would hope that it won’t be too long before there is a sufficient upturn in the private housing market to make the development of houses for sale on the remaining parts of the Woodhall site a viable proposition.”