SANCTUARY Homes is on site in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, delivering 44 new affordable homes.
23 houses, 20 cottage flats and one bungalow – all for social rent – has been tipped to ‘transform’ the site on which the town’s former Campbell Hospital once stood.
Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association will manage all the properties, the last of which will be completed next summer.
Councillor Anne Stirling, chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s communities committee, formally marked the start of construction in Portsoy’s Park Crescent. She said, “It is great to see work beginning on this development. Not only is it bringing new life to the former hospital site, it will deliver additional rental accommodation in north Aberdeenshire that I know will be very welcome.
“These properties very much support the objectives of our strategic housing investment plan and we’re very pleased to be working with Sanctuary Homes once again.”
The 44 homes are Sanctuary’s first new-build properties in Aberdeenshire since 2015. They will complement the 18 homes already managed by Sanctuary Scotland in the town. Sanctuary has committed to improve the play park in the town’s Murray Place.
Pat Cahill, director of Sanctuary Scotland explained, “Having lived and worked most of my life in the north east I’m delighted we are working with Aberdeenshire Council and the Scottish Government to improve the area’s affordable housing stock. This project will give 44 families a high quality home for social rent. The improvement works to the park will further enhance Portsoy, giving new and existing residents a place to play.”
The £6.1 million project was helped to site by a £3.9 million Scottish Government grant. Robertson Partnership Homes is the site contractor.
Neil Donald, regional director at Robertson Partnership Homes said, “This negotiated design and build contract is our first with Sanctuary Homes in this region – a major milestone for Robertson Partnership Homes as we become established in the north. We will be bringing all of our experience to bear on this project, ensuring we deliver affordable homes of the highest quality which residents will be proud to call home. We’re excited to start work at one of the best known sites in Portsoy and to further build our relationship with Sanctuary and Aberdeenshire Council.”
