The contract to refurbish 18 council houses in Andersquoy has been awarded to O’Brien Construction Ltd of Thurso.

Work on the houses should start in late-February next year, with the refurbished one and two bedroom flats ready for use by the end of 2010.

The announcement follows the recent award of a contract to build 12 new houses in Finstown.

The next three years will see in the region of 125 new council houses built across Orkney.

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Chair of the Council’s Social Services and Housing Committee Councillor Roderick McLeod told a meeting of Orkney Islands Council that he was delighted to announce the award of the contract for another tranche of the council’s house building programme.

He added: "I am sure many people in Orkney will be as encouraged as I am to see work in Finstown and now Andersquoy get underway as early as February next year on more affordable homes in the county.

"I would like to congratulate officers at the council who have worked together to develop the programme and secure £750k of support from the Scottish government. It’s very gratifying to be at the stage now where we have awarded contracts and will see work starting in the next few months at two locations."

(GK/KMcA)