Work will start early next year on a £6.5million social housing development in the south of Inverness.
Albyn Housing Society is seeking a contractor to build 49 new homes in the city’s Balvonie Braes.
Albyn was last night pleased the development was taking this step forward, and the social housing aspect of the plans were welcomed locally.
However, one local councillor repeated concerns that his fast-growing ward needed more infrastructure to go with this ad other development plans.
The new homes at Balvonie Braes will be a mixture of detached, semi-detached, terraced and flatted properties.
Yesterday Calum Macaulay, chief executive at Albyn Housing Society, said: “We are pleased to be procuring services to deliver 49 new homes for affordable and mid-market rent and low-cost home ownership at Balvonie, Inverness. With the total build expected to cost in the region of £6.5m, this project will be welcome news for the construction industry as we seek to procure our main contractor.
“Work is set to commence in early 2018 for approximately 18 months, and we’ll be looking to hand over keys to tenants and new homeowners in 2019.
“This project forms part of our plans to build 750 new homes in the Highlands by 2020, helping to address the growing demand for homes across the region and the Highland capital in particular.”
Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans welcomed the “much-needed” social housing, but said that general “poor planning” has led to housebuilding in the area outstripping the building of infrastructure and community services.
He added: “My ward is the fastest growing area in the Highlands and has one if the youngest and most affluent demographics. But there is no sports centre here and schools are overcrowded to the point where the council is having to re-adjust its capital programme.
“I think this will be the biggest challenge of this term for the council.”
