A Scottish Government minister has claimed that the Moray growth deal could bring more affordable housing to the region.
Housing minister Kevin Stewart spoke about the ramifications of the deal during a visit to Forres to open a new housing development in the town.
He said: “In terms of growth deals elsewhere and city deals, there have been housing elements.
“Obviously, there continue to be discussions between the council, the Scottish government and the UK government around the Moray Growth Deal, but other growth deals, other city deals have included housing elements.
“Certainly, infrastructure funds have featured in other deals and that may be an option that Moray Council puts forward for this deal.”
With 3,500 people on the Moray Council waiting list for housing and the region expecting an influx of new people due to RAF Lossiemouth expanding, the need for more housing in Moray has never been more pressing.
However, Mr Stewart argued the Scottish Government was doing all it could to help out with this problem.
He added: “It’s extremely important that we continue to deliver affordable housing right across Scotland. Here in Moray we are putting in £29m over the next three years.
“Across Scotland, we are spending £3bn to deliver 50,000 affordable homes, 35,000 for social rent during the course of this parliament. This is the greatest investment in housing in Scotland for decades.”
Mr Stewart planted a tree on Siwalik Road in Forres to mark the grand opening of the affordable housing estate.
It is the site of the £2.5m 20-unit development built by Springfield Properties in partnership with the Moray Council.
It includes 12 one-bedroomed flats, four two-bedroomed bungalows, two two-bedroomed wheelchair accessible bungalows and two four-bedroomed houses.
Lily Hendry, 96, is one of those new tenants and has happily settled into her new house.
She had a hip operation in November 2017 and needed same-level living accommodation, but described her property as “brilliant” and “worth the wait”.
Moray Council Leader Graham Leadbitter was also impressed by the affordable houses.
He said: “It’s fantastic getting new housing in Forres, we’ve done very well in recent years with huge investment from the Scottish government in social housing right across Moray.
“It’s important that we get our levels of social rented accommodation back up to a much higher level.”