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Highland Council sees work resume on housing development across the region


By Gregor White

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Work is currently ongoing to create new homes in the Slackbuie area of Inverness.
Work is currently ongoing to create new homes in the Slackbuie area of Inverness.

Councillors have welcomed news that work on Highland Council housing developments has restarted.

Prior to lockdown work was under way on 312 homes with a further 191 in the tender process and 134 waiting for tenders to be received.

Contractors are now back working, with the overall value of contracts on site and about to be let in excess of £60 million.

The council is currently committed to a five-year programme to create more than 600 new homes under its Local Housing Strategy, using Scottish Government grant funding, City-Region Deal funds, council borrowing supported by rental income and the council’s land bank facility.

Chairwoman of the council's economic and infrastructure committee, Councillor Trish Robertson, said: "Across the Highlands we have work on a total of 637 housing units either about to restart after the lockdown or in the process of getting developed.

"This represents over £60 million worth of contracts, which is certainly going to provide a very welcome boost for the local construction industry.

"The high number of units reflects our ambitious target and shows all the hard work going on by our housing development team, in partnership with Highland housing organisations and Scottish Government officers, to provide quality affordable homes.

"We want to increase the supply of homes so that we have enough houses in the right places to meet local housing needs.

"We also want to be able to support people to live independently for as long as possible in their own homes and communities.

"Good quality, affordable housing helps people to enjoy better health and achieve their full potential.

"Good housing also contributes to stronger communities that benefit everyone living in them."

Scottish Government Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: "These new homes will provide safe and warm places to live and will help to support growth and infrastructure investment across the Highlands, which is good news for local businesses and communities.

"Scotland’s rural areas are a major natural asset, with environmental quality that underpins key sectors such as food and drink, tourism, energy and the creative industries.

"That’s why tackling depopulation and helping more people to stay and move to the Highlands is so important.

"As housebuilding resumes safely, partnerships such as this between the Scottish Government, Highland Council and housing organisations are vital to sustain our construction industry and to help us continue our ambition to deliver more affordable homes that meet peoples’ needs."

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