Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has announced a £10 million fund to build affordable homes across the Highlands.

The Highland Infrastructure Fund is a partnership between the Scottish Government and The Highland Council and will support and accelerate the delivery of affordable housing across the region.

The government will provide £9 million of the fund, with the council providing the additional £1 million.

It will allow the council to provide support in the form of either an infrastructure grant or loan to facilitate housing sites to move forward to construction.

The fund is part of the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal, which also includes plans to improve transport networks, digital connectivity and the creation of a hub to encourage innovation of high growth businesses.

Mr Stewart said the fund will support the government’s ambitious commitment of delivering 50,000 affordable homes, including 35,000 for social rent by 2021.

He said: “Increasing the supply of affordable homes is a key commitment and vital to our ambition of tackling poverty and inequality in our society.

“Recent figures show encouraging signs of activity within the sector as a whole and we want to keep that momentum going through continued investment.

“This fund will support the delivery of new housing in the Highlands and means the council can plan for new affordable homes now.

“It’s a great example of how partnership working can deliver good quality homes in rural areas that suit the needs of local people, allowing them to remain within their communities.”

Leader of the Council, Margaret Davidson, said: “Availability of affordable housing is fundamentally important to the sustainability of communities in the Highlands. The Highland Council is committed, with our partners, through the City-Region Deal, to provide quality affordable homes which will help to retain a young and vibrant workforce and give our young people the best possible opportunities.”