STIRLING has been earmarked for over £53 million in Scottish Government funding for the build of new affordable homes.
The local authority will receive the sum over the next five years, with £11.96 million coming this year (2021-22) and sums of over £10 million following over the next four years.
The investment will allow Stirling Council to build on and expand its approach to delivering affordable housing, with 700 properties being built between 2017 and 2022 as part of the Council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan.
It is currently working with delivery partners for new build affordable homes on various sites across the Stirling area, including Bannockburn, Callander, Cornton, Cowie, Dunblane, Drymen, Raploch and St Ninians.
Stirling Council housing portfolio holder, councillor Jim Thomson, said, “This additional Scottish Government funding will help us achieve our ambitions for a significant increase in the number of affordable homes and helps maintain the momentum we have already built up to improve the quality of life of many residents by ensuring that more people on our Housing List can be offered housing that meets their needs.”
Depute housing portfolio holder, councillor Alasdair MacPherson, added, “I am delighted to hear of the recently announced funding package from the Scottish Government. This means that the Council and partners, including Forth Housing Association and Rural Stirling Housing Association, can start building more new developments in urban and rural areas across the Stirling area.”
Depute housing portfolio holder, councillor Danny Gibson, said, “A key priority for us as a Council is to provide warm, safe and comfortable homes for both current and future tenants. This funding will help us provide more affordable and energy efficient homes, delivering lower fuel bills and reducing the risk of our residents living in fuel poverty.”