£1.7m for new rented homes

Sep 28 2011 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday

A SPECIAL social housing fund is set to be doubled, allowing the Stirling area to benefit from an extra £1.676 million of funding for affordable homes for rent.

The announcement was made as part of the Scottish Government’s spending review.

Over two funding rounds, Forth Housing Association will receive £1,154,148 to build 15 new homes for rent and 14 shared equity homes at Anchorscross in Dunblane.

And Rural Stirling Housing Association will benefit from £614,186 for 14 new homes for rent in Moray Street and Station Wynd in Doune.

Forth Housing will also receive £575,120 for 13 homes, and a staff hub for carers, for people with learning disabilities at the former old nursery site, in Craighall Street, Raploch.

This brings the total funding approved for new affordable homes in the Stirling area to £2,790,720.

Last week, Stirling Council was awarded funding totalling £600,000 from the Scottish Government to build 20 new council homes.

This 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.

Stirling Council’s housing strategy portfolio holder Councillor Alasdair MacPherson welcomed this new funding saying: “This is tremendous news. Our capital programme is aimed at supporting and helping our most elderly and vulnerable tenants.

“This additional funding boost will help people in greatest need. Last year was the first in 30 years that we were able to start building our own new council homes. I’m extremely proud of what we’re achieving.

“Working with local housing associations Forth and Rural Stirling we will be able to continue our ambitious council house-building programme to tackle the chronic shortage of social rented housing in our area – and provide much needed support to the construction industry by encouraging employment in the local economy.”

Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford said: “I am delighted that the Stirling area has been successful once again in winning funding from the Scottish Government for essential housing.

“Both Forth and Rural Stirling housing associations do an excellent job, working in partnership with Stirling Council to address the dire need for social housing across the area. I look forward to that work continuing with this new allocation of funding.”