UP to £50 million will be given the local authorities and social landlords to help deliver new homes across the country, the Scottish Government has announced.
The grants, from the housing infrastructure fund, will be used to build infrastructure to serve new housing developments and to create new, stronger communities.
Fife Council has secured the first grant. Worth nearly £5 million, it will support the delivery of 8,000 new homes across Dunfermline.
A previous round of the fund saw £48 million awarded in loans and grants since 2016, which helped deliver up to 12,000 new properties.
Housing Secretary Shona Robison said, “This funding allows local authorities and registered social landlords to build crucial infrastructure which will unlock new building development sites, helping speed up the delivery of housing.
“It is fitting that this fund is launching in challenge poverty week, as housing can play a vital role in tackling poverty. We want everyone in Scotland to have a warm, safe, affordable home that meets their needs, and these grants will be crucial in helping us achieve our target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, building on our success in delivering more than 103,000 since 2007.
“The first grant for housing infrastructure projects in Dunfermline shows our continued support for city region deals, helping boost economic growth and create new jobs. The Scottish Government is investing £300 million in the Edinburgh and south east Scotland city region over 15 years, supporting housing, innovation, transport, skills and culture.”
