The £13.7 million development is being built on a vacant site off Montgomery Road and will consist of a mix of property types and sizes, including cottage flats with direct access and garden areas, bungalows and two-storey houses. Many of the homes will be wheelchair-accessible.

The homes are being built to meet the highest standards in energy efficiency, coming complete with air source heat pumps and solar panels.

The development will also see a nearby play park being relocated and upgraded to offer a modern and welcoming area for families in the community to enjoy.

The new homes add to high levels of continued investment being made in council houses across Renfrewshire delivering a range of improvements including new kitchens and bathrooms, window replacements, heating systems and roof repairs.

Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities and Housing policy board, said: “I’m really excited to see the new housing development in Gallowhill get underway.

“The new homes will add to the council’s housing supply as well as enhance the local area with the creation of a new play park nearby. The designs for this development have also been informed by feedback from the local community to ensure it reflects their needs.”

“The homes being built at Gallowhill will be delivered to the highest energy efficiency standards demonstrating our continued commitment to reduce our emissions as well as creating welcoming and comfortable homes for our tenants.”

Renfrewshire Council appointed McTaggart Construction to carry out the design and build of the project.

Prior to work starting on-site, McTaggart undertook an engagement session with the local community to understand their needs and aspirations which helped inform the designs. 

As part of the housing project in Gallowhill, McTaggart will expand its successful employability programme in partnership with Invest in Renfrewshire. The initiative has already provided 38 work placements resulting in 14 permanent jobs for young people in Renfrewshire over the last 12 months.

The development is supported by funding from the Scottish Government’s affordable housing programme.

Cabinet secretary for housing, Màiri McAllan, added: “I strongly welcome work beginning on Renfrewshire Council’s Gallowhill development. The 65 new, high quality, energy efficient council houses, backed by £9.6m of Scottish Government funding, will be a significant boost to the area, increasing the affordable housing supply within Renfrewshire and helping to provide homes in the local community for generations to come.

“We have supported the delivery of more than 139,000 affordable homes since 2007, with more than 99,000 of those being for social rent - including more than 28,000 council homes.

“Backed by £768m in our 2025-26 budget, we remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes across Scotland by 2032 with at least 70% of these for social rent.”

Janice Russell, managing director at McTaggart Construction, commented: “We’re delighted to be working with Renfrewshire Council on this important housing development in Gallowhill.

“The community engagement we conducted before breaking ground has been invaluable in shaping a development that truly meets local needs. These 65 new homes represent not just high-quality, energy-efficient housing, but a real investment in the future of this community. We’re particularly proud to be delivering homes that combine modern sustainability features with accessibility, ensuring they’ll serve residents well for generations to come.”

The council has delivered 315 new council homes across Renfrewshire in recent years, with developments completed in Bishopton, Johnstone and Ferguslie Park in Paisley.

There’s also a decade-long regeneration and renewal programme underway, benefiting around 1,600 homes across eight areas.

This project is part of wider regeneration plans for Gallowhill which include the replacement of the gas supply in two of its council housing multi-storey blocks with an innovative ground source heating pump solution and a planned Gallowhill Link project which would provide a new active travel and safe route to the new Paisley Grammar School community campus currently under construction.