A pensioner forced to spent the past two years living in a caravan is one of the first tenants to benefit from a new affordable housing development in Moray.
Terry Sneyd, who is originally from England but spent 30 years working in Canada, moved to Lossiemouth in 2014 to be nearer his son – who serves at the town’s RAF base.
But due to a shortage of homes in his price range, the 71-year-old was forced to live in a caravan at the Silversands park.
He was delighted when he recently discovered he was top of Moray Council’s housing list, and a property on Shore Street had been earmarked for him.
He added: “It’s great to finally be back in bricks and mortar, moving up here damn near killed me financially.
“The only place I could find was at Silversands, so I was very thankful when I heard about this.”
Mr Sneyd made the move when he discovered his son Adam, who works in movements at RAF Lossiemouth, planned to remain in Scotland after leaving the services.
And his 10-year-old cocker spaniel, Pepper, who he rescued this summer, is also settling into her new home well.
He added: “I love the fresh air here, and taking Pepper for a walk on the beach.”
The Lossiemouth development marks the beginning of an affordable housing scheme that will be rolled out across Moray over the next four years.
The four new flats on Shore Street are the first of their kind to be provided by the Moray Housing Partnership group for five years.
The organisation’s vice-chairman, Barry Jarvis, said: “The demand for this type of housing remains strong, we aim to build 100 new affordable homes by 2020.”
The Scottish Government has allocated £7million per annum towards the creation of affordable homes in the region, and further projects are planned in Elgin, Fochabers and Keith.
The Shore Street flats are being built by Buckie-based Morlich Homes.
