Development:

Work to start on affordable homes on island

A new development of affordable homes to rent and buy is to be built in Stornoway.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the Melbost Farm site yesterday to announce work is to start on the scheme that has been part-funded through a £1.8million grant from the Scottish Government.

The development – MacKenzie Crescent – will consist of 16 affordable homes for rent and 16 shared equity homes to buy as part of the government’s low cost initiative for first-time buyers (Lift) programme.

The investment is part of a housing development programme agreed between the government, Western Isles Council and the Hebridean Housing Partnership.

In addition to the current investment in new homes, more than £500,000 in government funding has been provided to buy land on Lewis and Harris for future development.

Ms Sturgeon said the housing development was part of a £4million package of support that will see 61 affordable homes built across the Western Isles by the summer of 2015.

“Increasing the supply of affordable housing is a vital part of our efforts to build a better and fairer Scotland, and the Scottish Government is doing everything possible to deliver on our target of 30,000 affordable homes over the lifetime of this parliament, at least 20,000 of which will be for social rent,” she said. “We are also helping households get onto, or move up the property ladder through our shared equity schemes.”

David Blaney, Hebridean Housing Partnership chairman, said: “We are delighted to see work commencing on this latest housing development.”

DIGGING IN: Alex Salmond views expansion work at Stornoway harbour yesterday during his Cabinet’s visit to the town