AMBITIOUS new plans to tackle the slum housing crisis in Govanhill have been revealed.

They include £6.4 million for 350 NEW homes for the south side community.

This follows on from a council and Scottish Government pledge of £34m to extend the Acquisition and Repairs Programme and bring 350 more homes into the ownership of Govanhill Housing Association.

Glasgow City Council will this afternoon release a report detailing a scheme it claims is a "bold statement of intent" for Govanhill.

As part of a wider strategy to improve housing conditions in the south side community, the new housing plan will:

- introduce a widening of the Enhanced Enforcement Area so housing officers will have additional powers to tackle poor landlord practice across 18 Govanhill tenement blocks.

- use compulsory purchase powers where ever necessary.

- create a new Social Lettings Agency to allow the local housing association to manage private-rented property in Govanhill.

- ensure factors are appointed for all properties in the extended 18 block area.

- continue to address poor maintenance of private property by using a range of enforcement tools.

- engage with residents to ensure the community is fully involved in developing plans for the area.

Councillor George Redmond, the council’s Executive Member for Jobs, Business and Investment, said: “This is an impressive document and points to the way ahead in Govanhill.

"Significant sums are being invested in Govanhill and it is great news that part of that money will go towards new housing.

“The council has been working exceptionally hard to turn things around in Govanhill and we are starting to see real progress being made."

The £6.4m for 350 new build homes will be channelled through housing associations over the next four years with eight sites in the area already identified for development.

These are on: Victoria Road, Inglefield Street, Batson Street, Holybrook Street, the former Larkfield bus depot site and Butterbiggans Road.

The homes will be available for social or mid-market rent and should all be complete and ready for tenants by 2020 and 21.

he strategy proposes the council spends more than £20m on housing in Govanhill, which includes £14m to support an extension of the successful Acquisition and Repairs Programme that has already seen Govanhill Housing Association take ownership of 124 flats in four blocks.

This £14m would combine with Scottish Government funding to create a £34m financial package intended to purchase and repair a further 350 homes for Govanhill Housing Association, which looks take on the factoring of tenement closes where ever possible.

As part of the strategy, Govanhill Housing Association has also committed £3.7m to new housing and repairs for the duration of the four year period.

Overall this means there are plans to invest more than £44m in housing in Govanhill over the next four years.

The strategy also identifies that council services such as Education and Land and Environmental Services will spent £3.5m on Govanhill services over the course of the strategy.

Local councillor Soryia Siddique said: "Extension of the Govanhill acquisition has taken years of campaigning though progress has now been made.

"Local communities were clear that sub-standard and over-crowded housing is an issue in the area.

"The use of compulsory purchase when required will help to make better living standards for local residents.

"The Scottish Government must listen to local communities and give more powers to the council through enhance enforcement area to support the long term strategy to improve housing in the area."

Mr Redmond added: “We are keen to work with all property owners in Govanhill so the area can fulfil its obvious potential.

"Where owners refuse to get on board with our plans, we will use our powers of compulsory purchase against them.

"No-one should be in any doubt about our long-term commitment to Govanhill.”

The report will be debated at executive committee on March 2.