A Highland housing association has announced plans to build more than 700 new affordable homes across the north within five years.
Invergordon-based Albyn Housing Society said the new properties were “desperately needed” following years of limited development because of the economic downturn.
The association will build 500 social rented, 100 mid-market rental and 125 low cost homes designed for first time buyers.
Albyn is in the early stages of planning the developments – but Inverness, Easter Ross, Badenoch and Strathspey and around Loch Ness, are expected to be priority areas.
Councillor Audrey Sinclair, chairwoman of Highland Council’s planning, development and infrastructure committee, said the announcement was “very welcome”.
She said: “It’s sounds like a lot of houses being built but they will be spread around over a wide area, rather than focused
“It is a good sign of the recovery of the housing market and the economy in the Highlands and there is certainly a demand for affordable housing.”
The new homes would increase Albyn’s social rented stock to more than 3,500 houses by 2020.
Chief executive Calum Macaulay said: “After more than a few years of very limited development of new homes we are now in a position to build a significant number of desperately needed affordable homes once again.
“However, it will be some time until we are at the level we were in 2008, when we built 350 homes a year.”
It is estimated 1,750 new affordable homes are needed each year across the region, with 7,000 people listed on the Highland Housing Register.
Mr Macaulay added: “Up until the start of this decade Albyn Housing Society along with other housing associations in the Highlands were important developers, providing homes and supporting many construction jobs.
“But public sector investment cuts and the tightening of private sector lending meant it became a struggle to build a fraction of past numbers.
“We are currently working with the Highland Council and Scottish Government on planning where in the region we will build, but priority areas are likely to include Inverness, Easter Ross, Badenoch and Strathspey and around Loch Ness.”