The Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Investment Programme funding allocation to the Scottish Borders during 2019/20 was £16 million. An extra £3.377m was then made available from the council, increasing the total annual grant spend to a record £19.375m, assisting the supply of housing to meet the needs of Borders communities.

As a result, during that 12 month period, 141 affordable homes were delivered locally, exceeding the annual target in the strategy of 128. Due to COVID disruptions and delays it is estimated that 122 new homes will be built in 2020/2021, just short of the annual target.

To ensure more Borderers live in high quality and energy-efficient homes £1.34m was invested in energy-efficient measures for private homes across the region in the year to April 2020.

Scottish Borders Council also secured two years of funding, worth over £550,000, from National Grid’s Warm Homes Fund to deliver the ‘Warm and Well Borders’ project which aims to reduce fuel poverty.

The progress report to the executive committee also highlighted significant work to reduce the number of people affected by homelessness. In 2019/20 over 90% of households assessed as unintendedly homeless secured settled accommodation - higher than the recent national average of 82%.

Another priority in the five year strategy has been to support independent living and over the period five new wheelchair accessible homes have been delivered throughout the area, as well as an in-depth assessment to examine the requirements and provisions of wheelchair accessible housing in local communities.

Councillor Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for economic regenerations and finance, said: “It is fantastic news that this ambitious strategy and a range of funding helped us to exceed the annual target for the delivery of new affordable homes in Scottish Borders communities over 2019/20.

“What is even more remarkable, given the disruption across a range of sectors, is that we are on track to almost meet the target again in 2020/21.

“The continued collaboration between the council and various partners has seen considerable success over many years in delivering both high numbers and high quality new affordable and accessible homes to meet local housing needs and we continue to strive to ensure more Borderers’ homes are warm and energy efficient as well as and providing continued support and resources for homelessness.”