| Date -22 Mar 2007 | Return to previous page |
Moray Council yesterday (21st March) approved the purchase of a parcel of land from Grampian NHS to help provide 100 low-cost houses in Elgin.
The houses will be built to the south of the city close to schools and shops.
Moray Council has purchased the 9.6hectare site at Bilbohall, Elgin, from the NHS for pounds two million.
All of the designated housing land, 4.3 hectares, will now be sold to Communities Scotland, who will fund the building of the new homes.
The remainder of the site will be required for infrastructure and landscaping improvements consistent with the new development, and this will be provided by the council.
The transaction was sanctioned at a meeting of the Moray Council.
Chair of Moray Council, Cllr Eddie Coutts, said that by working together with NHS Grampian and Communities Scotland, the council will have eased the local housing shortage for a large section of the community.
"Although there is a lot of building being carried out in Moray, not everyone can access these new homes because of the prices they attract," he said.
"There is a clear and identified need for more affordable housing in Moray, and by engaging with partners such as Communities Scotland and the NHS, Moray Council can help meet almost a third of that need with this scheme.
"This is Community Planning at its best; working with other organisations to fulfil a community need, and I’m delighted that this authority has had the vision to facilitate this scheme."
Jackie Wilkins, Communities Scotland acting director for Grampian, said: "Communities Scotland is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing for rent and low-cost ownership in Moray.
"This year we are investing a record pounds 33million in affordable housing in Grampian.
"The purchase of land at Bilbohall is an excellent example of communities Scotland working with local housing associations and the local authority.
"We are looking forward to this project moving forward in the future and to working with local partners to deliver affordable housing for families and people who need it."
The new homes will be managed by a local housing association in partnership with Communities Scotland.
It is anticipated that there will be a mix of shared equity and rented properties made available by Communities Scotland within the project.
Jim Royan, Chairman NHS Grampian said "We are very pleased to be associated with this development. It is an excellent example of community partnership working, and we are very pleased land formerly owned by the NHS is going to be put to use for the people of the Elgin area."