Councillors approve £1m plans for four new homes

ANGUS councillors have approved a £1 million housing plan that will help meet the needs of a family with disabilities.

Eight two-bedroom flats will be demolished in Noran Avenue in Arbroath and replaced with four family homes, including a five-bedroom house suitable for use by a family with special needs.

There will also be a detached four-bedroom house and two semi-detached three-bedroom homes on the site.

The plan has been brought forward in response to the needs of a family in the area with special needs and was unanimously approved by the council’s communities committee.

Removing the existing flats from the council’s housing stock and the expense of the project was questioned by Carnoustie councillor David Cheape.

He said: “Let me play devil’s advocate here – with the shortage of housing stock why we are removing eight properties to replace them with four at a cost of £1m?”

Communities director Alan McKeown replied: “While all of our properties are in good condition and meet the quality standards, not all of them are very popular. We have to listen to our customers.

“We therefore have a commitment to improving our stock. We have set ourselves the task of building housing we would be proud to call home.

“I’m proud to say the housing we are to build in Noran Avenue and other parts of Angus is of the highest quality.”

Kirriemuir and Dean councillor Ronnie Proctor said he considered the money “well spent”.