£5.7m affordable homes development set to begin at Ness Castle in Inverness
An additional 42 affordable homes are to be built at Ness Castle in Inverness thanks to a partnership between Cairn Housing Association, Highland Housing Alliance (HHA) and Barratt Homes.
This latest phase at the development includes 18 houses and cottage flats and 24 apartments for allocation by the two housing alliance partners and represents a total investment of £5.7 million in local housing.
Construction will commence this month, with the first completions expected in summer next year.
It follows on from Barratt Homes' partnership with Albyn Housing, which has already delivered 51 new properties in the area.
David Palmer, managing director for Barratt North Scotland, said: “Inverness has experienced massive growth over recent decades, and it’s our aim to help it thrive as it continues to expand by providing quality homes for the city’s residents.
"Our partnership with Cairn and HHA at Ness Castle will achieve just that by supporting local demand while adding to the settlement’s strong community presence, which many customers and visitors have remarked upon.”
Angus Lamont, acting chairman of Cairn’s board, commented: “We are delighted to start work on these homes, which will be a great addition to the Inverness area. This is the latest project in our five-year development programme, and with demand for good quality, affordable social housing continuing to grow, it will go some way to meeting the needs of our communities.”
Nine of the homes will be available for mid-market rent with HHA, a scheme which is specifically targeted at people in employment who are unable to raise the finance required to buy a home.
HHA chief executive Gail Matheson added: “With its close proximity to Inverness city centre and attractive range of homes, Ness Castle will appeal to a range of potential occupiers.
“The development also represents a strong example of partnership working for the benefit of Highland communities, to create places to live and work. We know that mid-market rent, alongside private development, is an attractive option for many residents, and we look forward to welcoming applications for Ness Castle in the near future.”
