Construction sector boost as council housing work resumes
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Work has restarted on local authority housing developments around the Highland Council area, bringing a boost to the construction sector.
Before the lockdown, work was under way on 312 homes in the region. A further 191 were in the tender process and 134 were waiting for tenders to be received.
Contractors are now back working, and the overall value of contracts on site and about to be let is in excess of £60 million.
The council’s overall affordable housing targets are set out in its local housing strategy. It commits to a five-year programme with more than 600 new council homes being built or ready to go on site in the Highlands.
Councillor Trish Robertson, chairperson of the economy and infrastructure committee, said: “Across the Highlands we have work on a total of 637 housing units either about to restart after the lockdown or in the process of being developed. This represents over £60 million worth of contracts which is certainly going to provide a very welcome boost for the construction industry.
"The high number of units reflects our ambitious target and shows all the hard work going on by our housing development team, in partnership with Highland housing organisations and Scottish Government officers, to provide quality affordable homes.
“We want to increase the supply of homes so that we have enough houses in the right places to meet local housing needs. We also want to be able to support people to live independently for as long as possible in their own homes and communities.
"Good-quality, affordable housing helps people to enjoy better health and achieve their full potential. Good housing also contributes to stronger communities that benefit everyone living in them.”
Scotland's housing minister Kevin Stewart said: “These new homes will provide safe and warm places to live and will help to support growth and infrastructure investment across the Highlands, which is good news for local businesses and communities.
"Scotland’s rural areas are a major natural asset, with environmental quality that underpins key sectors such as food and drink, tourism, energy and the creative industries. That’s why tackling depopulation and helping more people to stay and move to the Highlands is so important.
“As housebuilding resumes safely, partnerships such as this between the Scottish Government, Highland Council and housing organisations are vital to sustain our construction industry and to help us continue our ambition to deliver more affordable homes that meet peoples’ needs.”
