Stirling Council's Administration has welcomed the news that a further 34 new rented homes are set to be built in Cambusbarron.

The Scottish Government announced that Forth Housing Association were successful in a bid for £2.5m of development funding available from the Accelerated Housing Grants for housing projects across Scotland.

The bid, supported by Stirling Council as strategic housing authority, met the required criteria for Accelerated HAG funding on several points; Cambusbarron is an area currently under consideration for "pressured area" status by the Council, the FHA considers the total project cost to be within the cost limit of HAG Benchmark and therefore value for money, the development will assist with homelessness in the Stirling Council area and the houses will meet space standards, accessibility standards and thermal efficiency standards for Grant funding.

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Forth Housing Association (FHA) will now submit a fully costed tender submission to the Housing Investment Division for detailed appraisal. If agreed the 34 new homes will be built by Persimmon Homes for affordable rent and it is anticipated that building will start on site in February 2009 and will complete by February 2010.

Stirling Council Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Housing Strategy Councillor Alasdair MacPherson said: "This is great news for people desperate for affordable housing in our area and for the hard pressed construction industry struggling in the current economic climate. The additional investment in Cambusbarron is very welcome and the Council will support Forth Housing Association with their plans to increase the availability of much need affordable homes."

There are currently 14 new homes planned for rent on the site in Cambusbarron, formed under a Section 75 planning condition that 25% of new homes built on the development must be affordable housing.

Councillor MacPherson adds: "Until the Scottish Government's accelerated funding came into place there was only one phase of affordable housing planned for the Polmaise Farm site. Owing to the poor housing market conditions for private house sales, Persimmon and Forth Housing Association are now in discussion about these additional homes helping the community with much needed local affordable housing and keeping construction works in employment on this site for around a further 12 months."

(GK/JM)