Properties purchased through West Dunbartonshire Council’s buyback programme could be rebuilt into larger family homes. 

The local authority has created a scheme to improve and expand its housing stock which allows them to buy private properties in areas where there is a high demand.  The accommodation being purchased is usually a former council property that was sold through the Right to Buy.

Two years ago, the local authority bought 16 properties, three of which had three or more bedrooms. But last year, it snapped up 35 new homes, at an average cost of £100,000 each.

Of those 35 new homes, 26 were for families with three or more bedrooms.

The issue was addressed at a recent housing and communities committee meeting.

Councillor John Millar said: “I notice that larger family homes are needed more at the moment. Have you thought of any ways you can extend these properties – for example, a three-bedroom into a four-bedroom with a minimum amount of conversion taking place which would create another bedroom within the property?"

Council officers confirmed it was all about value for money but they had been investigating their options. 

John Kerr, housing development and homeless manager, said: “We have explored it and we continue to do so. That would be based on the evaluation of properties and we wouldn’t rule anything out.

“The only caveat is that it tends to be very expensive for extensions to be done. We would look at it and evaluate it – it’s certainly not off the table and we wouldn’t rule it out.

“We wouldn’t discount a two-bedroom property that could be turned into a three-bedroom property.”