The Provost of Inverness, Councillor Alex Graham and fellow Councillors Allan Duffy and Graham Ross welcomed new tenants into their new homes at Assynt Road in the city.

The move marks the completion of the final phase of 32 houses in the circa £6m development.

In this phase, 10 Council houses and 22 flats form part of the 56-property development, created in partnership with Caledonia Housing Association.

The site, which was previously undeveloped and overgrown, was owned by the Highland Council.

Speaking from the site, the Highland Council's Chair of Finance, Housing and Resource Committee, Councillor Dave Fallows said: "I am delighted to welcome these new tenants to their new homes, which are an excellent example of partnership working. Caledonia Housing Association has worked with The Highland Council to enable 56 new energy efficient homes to be built for council and social rented houses. This site clearly shows how an area of unused land can be regenerated to provide much needed homes for the Highlands."

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Julie Cosgrove, Chief Executive of Caledonia Housing Association said: "This landmark development heralds the latest chapter in our provision of affordable housing in the Highlands. Our partnership with Highland Council has delivered 56 much-needed affordable rented homes in Inverness.

"The striking design, as well as being visually impressive also incorporates a Biomass District Heating scheme, which will both reduce energy costs for tenants, and at the same time reduce the carbon footprint of the housing. Thanks to this, and other design features, the Caledonia HA homes have also achieved the highest ever Eco-Homes rating for new housing in Scotland."

Each of the new homes is heated with mains gas heating and is built to energy efficient building standards.

They were built by Stewart Milne Construction, with KLM Partnership appointed as the Chartered Surveyors, and Colin Armstrong Associates appointed as the architect.

The total cost to build the 56 houses was in the region of £6m, with £2.3m in grant monies from the Scottish Government, together with monies from the Scottish Government's Vacant and Derelict Land Fund which is held by the Council.

(JP/MH)