The Communities Housing Trust (CHT) has announced that applications are now open for 12 new affordable homes currently being built in Tomintoul and expected to be complete in summer 2022.

The community-led development on the site of the old secondary school is led by Tomintoul & Glenlivet Development Trust (TGDT), with support from the Communities Housing Trust.

The homes are a mix of affordable rent and discounted sale, managed by the Communities Housing Trust on behalf of TGDT, a community owned registered charity.

There are eight 2 to 3 bedroom homes available for affordable rent, one of which includes a homeworking space, and four 3-bedroom homes for discounted sale, two of which include homeworking spaces.

The Rural Housing Burden is applied to the homes for discounted sale, which gives 100% ownership, and applies a discount percentage in perpetuity which protects the ongoing affordability for the local community.

-- Advertisement --

People with local connections to the area, through work or family, will be prioritised, as a way to promote the ongoing sustainability of rural communities.

The development also tackles fuel poverty and social isolation, as the homes are designed around a communal space, and include individual EV charging points, PV panels on each home to generate electricity, and are highly insulated.

Tilly Smith, Chair of TGDT said: "This development has been a huge project for TGDT and we're delighted to be offering these 12 amazing houses at a significant discount against market rates to support and sustain our communities. The development which includes live-work units will help regenerate our area and provide long term, high quality, affordable housing for people who live and work here."

Ronnie MacRae, CEO of Communities Housing Trust said: "Community-led developments like this one are so important in small and rural communities, because they're based on what the community themselves want and need.

"This development is also helping to tackle wider issues such as fuel poverty, and working towards net zero. The homeworking spaces signal a shift we've all seen since Covid to work more flexibly, which can also help to diversify local economies. We'd like to congratulate the Tomintoul and Glenlivet communities on finalising such a high-quality development so swiftly, in a national park setting."

The project has been funded by the Scottish Land Fund, the Scottish Government's Rural & Islands Housing Fund, Social Investment Scotland, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, the Community And Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), Dorenell Windfarm Community Benefit Fund, TDGT, and is constructed by Aberdeen-based Alpha Projects.