Cash boost for new affordable homes
AT LEAST 200 new affordable homes will be built in Fort William following a £1.2 million grant from the Scottish Government to Lochaber Housing Association (LHA).
The announcement was made as housing minister Kevin Stewart was in Fort William last week. Mr Stewart visited the site at Upper Achintore where a variety of mixed tenure homes for rent and private use will be developed.
‘ We recognise the challenges of developing affordable housing in rural areas, so I’m delighted our investment will help to make affordable housing a reality at this site,’ said Mr Stewart.
‘This grant will support the delivery of at least 200 new homes in Fort William and is a great example of how partnership working can deliver a range of homes to suit the needs of the local community.
‘Increasing the supply of affordable homes across Scotland is a key commitment and vital to our ambition of tackling poverty and inequality in our society.’
LHA director Blair Allan said around 50 much-needed affordable homes have already been built in Upper Achintore in the past few years. He said: ‘This Scottish Government grant takes our potential investment in affordable housing here to a new level. Everyone knows the housing need in Fort William is intense.
‘The opportunity here is that we can, in partnership with the Scottish Government, the Highland Council and others, go a significant way towards satisfying this need in the short to medium term. We are grateful to the Scottish Government for this support and for the confidence it has shown in our ability to deliver.’
Councillor Allan Henderson, chairman of the Highland Council’s places committee, welcomed the announcement.
‘This is good news for Lochaber where there has been a shortage of affordable housing,’ he said.
‘The development is especially welcome given the regeneration of the Fort William smelter and the new job opportunities coming to the area.
‘It comes on top of the recent welcome Scottish Government investment which has enabled the council and its partners to deliver new affordable homes in Tweeddale Apartments, Raasay Court and Belhaven Drive.’