We Take Handover of New Alness Homes

The Alness community is set to benefit from a new homes boost after we took handover of the first phase of our new Dalmore development on Thursday 30 June.

Featuring a total of 37 homes including 10 for purchase via the LIFT scheme, 12 for mid-market rent and 15 for rent with the Highland Council, the attractive development neighbours Alness Academy and other local amenities including the High Street and health centre.

Representing a total investment of £4.6m including £1.4m support from the Scottish Government, construction commenced at the site in May 2015 with O’Brien Properties appointed as developer.

Calum Macaulay, our Chief Executive, said: “The Dalmore site is a major project for Albyn Housing Society and once complete has the potential to bring over 200 much needed new homes to the Alness community.

“The site has proven extremely popular – just two of the LIFT properties remain for sale and the homes for mid-market rent could have been leased ten times over. Highland Council tenants will also be moving in to their new homes very soon.

“Our aim for the next phase will be to sell two areas of land to private developers to create additional homes for sale, and we will also be progressing our innovative FIT Homes cluster housing project with NHS Highland and Carbon Dynamic.”

Minister for Local Government and Housing Kevin Stewart added: “This is an excellent example of partnership working in order to deliver vital affordable housing at a high standard to the Alness community.

“Across Scotland we are committed to maximising our investment in affordable housing.  We have a target to deliver 50,000 new affordable homes by 2021, and are providing at least £3bn investment to achieve this.”

The Dalmore site is also set to be home to a unique cluster housing project led by ourselves, NHS Highland and Invergordon-based Carbon Dynamic, which aims to develop a new sustainable home design for residents with long-term health and care needs who want to live independently at home.

The project is currently being reviewed by the Highland Council Planning Committee with a decision expected later in the summer.

Part of the Scottish Funding Council’s innovation centre programme, the Digital Health and Care Institute is supporting the project, which will also deliver invaluable research into the health economics of the FIT Homes concept.