Plans for the development of 36 new homes by Aberdeenshire Council following a successful bid for Scottish Government funding have been welcomed.

Members of Aberdeenshire Council's Social Work and Housing Committee heard the local authority had been one of only three councils to be successful in the bid for funding, securing £850,000 for the project.

The New Build programme will involve the development of 36 new homes - 12 in Tarves, 18 in Mintlaw and six in Johnshaven.

Of these, 31 will remain in the ownership and management of Aberdeenshire Council, and five will be low-cost homes for sale at the Tarves site.

-- Advertisement --

Work on the schemes is due to begin in the current financial year, subject to the completion of planning and contract tendering arrangements.

Supporting the Scottish Government grant will be a contribution of £750,000 from second homes council tax income, and £540,000 of affordable housing planning gain contributions.

A further £500,000 has been earmarked from the Council's housing revenue account, depending on final development costs, bringing the estimated total investment in the scheme to £2.64million.

Following last Thursday's discussions, committee chairman Cllr Gurudeo Saluja said: "The delivery of affordable housing has been identified as a key priority across Aberdeenshire.

"The successful bid for funding from the Scottish Government means we are now able to take forward a scheme which increases access to housing in three of our communities."

The Scottish Government scheme provides £25,000 towards the construction of each new home and committee members heard there will be an opportunity to make further bids from a £25m fund in October.

(GK/JM)