Funding boost for council housing

Sep 21 2011 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday

SCOTTISH Government funding of £600,000 is set to allow Stirling Council to build 20 new council houses.

The new funding will see six specially designed bungalows for older people and people managing disabilities in both Cowie and Riverside, as well as eight new family homes in Thornhill.

There’s also a further £218,180 for five units for Rural Stirling Housing Association.

Last year, the council's work started on a new generation of 156 homes at a total cost of £18.86m being built over the next three years. This was the first time in 30 years that the council was able to build new homes.

Stirling Council's housing strategy portfolio holder Councillor Alasdair Macpherson said: “This £600,000 grant is excellent news. This new investment will directly support and help our elderly and vulnerable tenants.

“I would like to acknowledge my thanks to the housing team for putting together what was a very good bid. I'm extremely proud of what is being achieved with our ambitious council house-building programme to tackle the chronic shortage of social rented housing in our area.

“We're increasing the number of council houses available for rent. Our strategy is about meeting local needs whilst at the same time supporting the local construction industry and encouraging employment in the local economy.

“Stirling Council’s SNP administration is continuing to work closely with the Scottish Government to deliver badly needed new housing for the Stirling area, and that work continues with this latest investment in 20 new units, which will provide desperately needed housing for elderly and disabled people.”

The funding is part of the Scottish Government's £55 million Innovation and Investment Fund (IIF) project.

Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford said: “This initiative sees the Scottish Government, local authorities, housing associations and private developers working together to address the need for additional affordable housing, and I am delighted that Stirling’s share of this first tranche of funding will see twenty new council houses and five more housing association units in the Stirling area.

“With the public purse under huge financial strain, radical and innovative approaches to increase housing supply at maximum value for taxpayers' money are essential and this excellent scheme is delivering exactly that.”

Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil said: “With the public purse under huge financial strain we need radical and innovative approaches to increase housing supply at maximum value for taxpayers' money.

“We called for fresh thinking and new ideas and in response councils, housing associations and private developers have risen to the challenge magnificently.”