WIREDGOV

Partnership will create new homes for rent at below market rates.

Residents in the Borders are to benefit from hundreds of new affordable homes through the further expansion of the award-winning National Housing Trust initiative (NHT).

Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess announced that hundreds of additional NHT homes will be delivered in the Borders as she officially opened a new NHT development of 24 homes at Innerleithen.

A new partnership between the Scottish Government, Scottish Futures Trust and Scottish Borders Council will see up to 200 homes provided at locations across the area through a version of the initiative known as the ‘NHT council variant’, supporting around 200 jobs.

Under this model, council funding is backed by a capped Scottish Government revenue guarantee.

Mrs Burgess said:

“It is my belief that each and every one of us should live in a comfortable home which doesn’t cost the earth to keep.

“I have seen at first-hand the difference that the NHT initiative is making, offering people throughout the country new, high quality homes which meet their needs.

“I am delighted that Scottish Borders Council will be delivering up to 200 additional homes through the ‘NHT council variant’.

“These new homes, along with the ones developed by Tweed Homes which I’m opening today in Innerleithen, are a welcome addition to the supply of affordable housing in the Borders.

"Despite Westminster’s cuts to our capital budget the Scottish Government is doing everything possible to stimulate growth, maximise our investment in housing and deliver on our target of 30,000 new, affordable homes over the lifetime of this Parliament.

“That is why the Scottish Government is willing to make guarantees available through the NHT council variant model to other councils wishing to deliver more affordable homes for rent in their areas.”

Christa Reekie, Commercial Director of Scotland’s Future Trust said:

“The Council Variant is an extension of the successful National Housing Trust initiative. NHT has demonstrated that there is an ongoing need for high quality homes at affordable rent levels.

“Whereas under the developer led NHT model the supply of homes is limited to the number of homes the developer can build, the Council Variant allows the local authority to take a more active role in the choice of house types and locations.

Councillor Frances Renton, Executive Member for Social Work & Housing at Scottish Borders Council, said:

“The work done to explore the viability of this Council-led initiative is a great example of the Council working in partnership to do things differently and seize opportunities to seek to provide additional affordable housing for mid market rent and in doing so to help stimulate the local construction industry and the local economy. This is what the Council’s “Ambitious for the Borders” vision is all about.”

Andy Pearson, Managing Director, Tweed Homes, said:

“Tweed Homes and Scottish Borders Council were the first participants to sign up to the NHT initiative in Scotland and delivered much needed new affordable homes in Galashiels and Innerleithen without any grant subsidy from the public purse.

“It’s also fantastic to learn that Scottish Borders Council and the Scottish Futures Trust are seeking to build on the success of our NHT involvement with ambitious plans to deliver more new affordable homes in the Borders. This is truly wonderful news.”