More than 1,000 new homes are to be delivered by SSEN Transmission across the north of Scotland as part of a landmark housing strategy.

SSEN Transmission made the pledge as part of its Pathway to 2030 programme and will work alongside councils, registered social landlords and other housing organisations to deliver the project.

The company will effectively play a role in combating the country's lack of housing, while its Pathway to 2030 programme invests £20bn to upgrade the transmission network in the north of Scotland in support of energy security and national net zero ambitions.

Around 400 homes each in Highland and Aberdeenshire, as well as other housing activity elsewhere across SSEN Transmission's area, is included in the delivery of the project.

Further announcements with details of local housing projects in different council areas will be made in the coming months.

"Our commitment to support the delivery of more than 1,000 new homes in the north of Scotland reflects ongoing work led by SSEN Transmission with the support of our contractors and partners, focused on finding workforce accommodation solutions that will provide a legacy for communities where the lack of housing for local people is a key issue," said Rob McDonald, SSEN Transmission's Managing Director.

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"This is a significant and innovative contribution to addressing the housing challenges in the north of Scotland and it also demonstrates how we can work in partnership to develop imaginative proposals that will deliver new homes and act as a template for other developers.

"Discussions are ongoing with local authorities, developers and registered social landlords over the location and scale of potential projects and we expect to make further announcements in the coming months that will demonstrate substantial benefits to local communities.

"Our £20bn investment in the transmission network is the biggest investment programme the north of Scotland has seen in decades – and our ambition to create a housing legacy reflects our determination to make a lasting and positive contribution in the communities hosting our infrastructure."

SSEN Transmission outlined its plans at the Housing Challenge Summit in Aviemore today (Tuesday, October 22), where it launched its new 'potential game-changer' housing strategy, which was developed over the last year in collaboration with contractors, local authorities, registered social landlords and other housing organisations.

The Scottish Government's Housing Minister, Paul McLennan, said: "I welcome the innovative approach being taken by SSEN Transmission to support the delivery of an additional 1,000 new homes across the north of Scotland. These homes will initially be for workers upgrading the local energy infrastructure to support Scotland’s net-zero targets and will support a longer-term legacy across the region.

"We will work with SSEN Transmission and other partners to ensure that the right homes are delivered in the right place, to benefit local communities for generations to come.

"Good quality housing is essential to attract and retain people in our communities. We remain focussed on delivering 110,000 affordable homes across Scotland by 2032, with at least 70% for social rent and at least 10% in our rural and island communities supported by our Rural and Island Housing Action Plan."

Read the full housing strategy here.