Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have published the latest quarterly update of their Affordable Housing Programme.

According to the latest report, summer 2019 saw steady progress against the Affordable Housing Programme throughout the Outer Hebrides. Several developments we reported on last quarter were completed and subsequently allocated in April by Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP), adding 28 homes to the housing stock and providing tenants with warm and comfortable homes, as follows:

• 10 semi-detached houses at Sealladh a Chliseim, Leurbost;

• 12 flats at Langley Apartments, Stag Road, Stornoway; and

• 6 semi-detached houses at Corran Cismaol, Isle of Barra.

On the ground we have a number of developments at various stages:

• Mackenzie Avenue (50 units);

• Breasclete, Lewis (10 units);

• Tarbert Police Station, Harris (8 units);

• Horgabost, Harris (4 units);

• Cnoc na Runaire, Tolsta (4 units);

• An Glib, Point (2 units);

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• Edgemoor Square, Ness (2 units);

• Garrynamonie, South Uist (4 units); and

• Scotland Street, Stornoway (6 units).

With Scottish Government support, HHP are expanding the successful New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE) scheme to include rural sites across the Outer Hebrides, the first of these being the 4 units at Pairc Niseaboist, Horgabost, which are due for completion in November of this year. The existing development at Pairc Niseaboist won the Rural and Islands Housing Associations Forum (RIHAF) Development of the Year in 2017, and its location next to Talla na Mara, and a short walk from the beautiful beach at Horgabost, is idyllic.

The NSSE scheme is designed to help people who, without assistance from the scheme, would be unable to buy a new build house that suits their needs, in addition to those who have experienced a significant change in circumstances.

Planning applications have been submitted, awarded or approved in respect of the following sites and we will give further updates as they progress:

• Low Flyer, Balivanich (10 units);

• Torlum (2 units); and

• Winfield Close (1 unit).

Finally, the biggest development news of the summer is that the Goathill Care Home, Housing and Housing with Extra Care project is underway. In July preliminary engineering works started and the turf was cut by Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning. The development will be completed in three phases: the first comprising of the engineering works, the second the construction of the Care Home and Extra Care Housing, and the third phase should see the completion of the affordable housing element. The turf-cutting marked several years planning and partnership working between the Integration Joint Board, Hebridean Housing Partnership, and the Comhairle, with support from Scottish Government.

(MH/JG)