20 homes ready for tenants in Ross-shire county town of Dingwall as Highland Council takes possession of new build
TWENTY new flats on a patch of derelict land in Ross-shire's county town are now ready for their new council tenants.
The development near one of the gateways to Dingwall has been completed on the town's Station Road on a site which has previously been occupied by Travis Perkins and a car wash, amongst other uses.
The Highland Council development is now ready for its new tenants after the local authority took possession of the properties from contractor, Capstone Construction, on Tuesday.
Housing and property committee chair, Glynis Campbell Sinclair, said: “The Station Road Dingwall development is a prime example of making positive change within communities. Twenty new homes for social rent will make a significant difference in an area much in need of affordable properties of this type of tenure.
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“Suitable land for development can be finite, to be able to repurpose a derelict site in a prime location to offer additional housing options for people to live and work in the area is a fantastic achievement.
“Social housing and affordable housing is a key priority in the council’s programme and efforts to increase the supply continues as part of the Local Housing Strategy 2023-2028.”
The site consists of former commercial premises which has been a branch of Travis Perkins and a car wash amongst other uses over the years. It had fallen empty until the council acquired it for redevelopment.
The development consists of 20, one- and two-bed flats for Highland Council rent, with some of the one-bed flats designed to convert into two beds should the occupying tenant’s needs change over time.
The development was designed by Reynolds Architecture and funded by Highland Council, along with a grant of £1,754,299 towards the cost from the Scottish Government’s More Homes Division. It is one of a range of schemes being supported by Scottish Government across Highland to address the acute demand for affordable homes.
The main contractor was Inverness-based Capstone Construction. The appointment of a Highland contractor helps to support the local supply chain and workforce, as much as possible, whilst Highland Council’s contract award criteria encourages the appointment of local apprentices to its schemes.
The council has committed to the delivery of an average of 660 new affordable homes a year of which approximately 70 per cent will be for affordable rent and 30 per cent for what the local authority calls "intermediate affordable housing", defined as low-cost home ownership or mid-market rent, in line with overall Scottish Government targets.
