Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has got the go ahead to build 27 new homes for rent in Oban and Connel.

The 17 homes to be built in Oban will be at Glenshellach and the ten in Connel will be at St Oran’s Place.

The two developments which are starting on site this month will see an investment of £4,145,000 in the projects. Funding support for the initiatives has come from the Scottish Government (£1.7 million), Argyll and Bute Council (£675,000) and ACHA (£1.7m).

The new properties will range in size from 1 to 4 bedroom.

Both developments will be built by M&K MacLeod Construction of Lochgilphead.

Alastair MacGregor, ACHA’s chief executive, said: “I am delighted that after a lot of hard work the partnership between the Scottish Government, Argyll and Bute Council and ACHA has brought this to bear. This is good news for those that need an affordable home as well as being an important stimulus for jobs and the local economy. We believe that the construction phase will sustain 69 full-time jobs over 15 months, of which 5 will be for apprentices.”

He added: “The Oban area needs new homes to retain our young people and to support the local economy both in terms of work and places to live and I would like to thank the Scottish Government and the Council for sharing that vision with us.”

Michael Russell, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Argyll and Bute, said: “I welcome the Scottish Government’s support for these developments in Oban and Connel. Affordable housing is a key priority for the SNP Government, which is demonstrated by our commitment to build 30,000 affordable homes over the lifetime of the current Scottish Parliament. Moreover, I am delighted that the developments will boost the local economy in Argyll and Bute, creating jobs and bringing investment into the heart of the community.”