Calum Kerr MP has officially opened one of Eildon Housing Associations (HA) new developments in the Scottish Borders region.

The newly elected MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk unveiled a plaque for the 18 home development at Rodger Fish Gardens in Kelso.

The £2.5m sustainable housing development comprises of four, three and two bedroom houses and flats.

The project was funded mostly by Eildon HA, but also benefited from a £558,000 grant from the Scottish Government and £302,000 of support from Scottish Borders Council.

The homes have been designed to meet high sustainable standards, resulting in two recent national housing design awards.

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In addition, the HA has worked with local people to make provision for the reinstatement of allotment plots adjacent to the site.

The ceremony's guest of honour, Calum Kerr MP, said: "Right across Scotland and the UK, there is a real need for this type of accommodation. The Scottish Government is set to meet its target of 30,000 new affordable homes by next year, and of course Rodger Fish Gardens is making a valued contribution to that.

"Overall across the UK, we need at least 100,000 houses of this type to be built every year, so there's still a long way to go. But developments like this are showing the way and helping to meet demand."

Nile Istephan, Chief Executive of Eildon HA, added: "Eildon continues to work hard to meet housing need across the Borders. With the support of our partners in the Scottish Government and Scottish Borders Council we have been able to sustain a good supply of high quality new homes across the Borders for many years now, and we hope to continue to do this well into the future to help address continuing housing need."

(LM)