Scottish Borders Council set to build 1,000 affordable homes

Scottish Borders Council has submitted plans to the Scottish Government that could see it build 1,000 new affordable homes over the next five years.

The commitment is part of the council’s latest Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP), which was approved by its executive committee earlier this week.

The SHIP also sets out investment priorities and identifies the resources required and potential innovative funding and procurement solutions.

And it includes regeneration projects, including that planned by Waverley Housing in Upper Langlee.

In the next two years, it is estimated that approximately 751 new affordable homes could be delivered, and up to 1,047 overall by the end of 2024, including several extra care housing developments.

This assumes any land and infrastructure challenges are resolved and that the constructions sector has the capacity to deliver the projects. It is also based on assumed funding from the Scottish Government, partner private sector borrowing and the use of the Council’s affordable housing budget.

It is anticipated that the large majority of the homes would be delivered by local registered social landlords.

‘As a council we are determined to support the delivery of much-needed affordable homes across the area,’ said the council’s executive member for business and economic development, Cllr Mark Rowley.

‘This helps young people stay and work in the area, have families and put down roots here. That has a significant, long term positive impact on our local economy.’

‘More than 1,000 affordable homes would go a long way to meeting housing needs in our communities over the next five years and would also help support the local construction sector, providing a further boost to the economy,’ added Cllr Rowley.

‘It is an ambitious plan and there are certainly some challenges, from land supply to funding, but we continue to work very closely with a range of partners, including registered social landlords and the Scottish Government, to maximise opportunities to deliver more affordable homes.’

More information on the SHIP is available on the council’s website.

Photo by Bromford