Those interested in the future supply of affordable self-build housing sites in Orkney are invited to take part in a consultation being run by Orkney Islands Council’s Housing team from May 10.

The Council intends to develop land in its ownership for onward sale as ‘serviced’ building sites (sites with electricity and water linkages).

The consultation, which runs for six weeks, will ask for people’s views on whether or not the Council should continue to add services to building sites, and if so how those serviced sites should be sold.

Feedback gathered will be used to develop a policy for the sale of serviced sites.

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Chair of the Council’s Social Services and Housing Committee, Councillor Roderick McLeod, said: “We are very keen to find out from people how they think the sale of housing sites should be handled by the Council.

“In the past, sites have been sold on an ‘offers over’ basis, but this consultation will look at whether people agree that some sites should be sold on a priority and needs basis. If so, what proportion of sites should be sold based on need, and how should need be scored?

“These are important questions and we want the public to tell us what concerns and suggestions they have for the policy.”

The draft policy and questionnaire will go out to consultation from May 10 until June 30, with results reported to the Social Services and Housing Committee in August.

The consultation will be introduced at coming Community Councils and copies of the consultation documents will be available from May 10 on the Council’s website at www.orkney.gov.uk and from Council offices and libraries in Kirkwall and Stromness.

(GK)