The announcement this week came as the council’s communities committee approved the Local Housing Strategy and Strategic Housing Investment Plan which will both help to drive the delivery of the new homes for people in Angus.

The Local Housing Strategy sets out how an improvement plan for housing throughout the region and how the supply of affordable homes will be increased to help match demand and people’s needs, as well as enabling them to live independent lives. It states how the council will improve the quality and energy efficiency of all its housing to help tackle fuel poverty and reduce domestic emissions.

Supporting the ambition of the strategy, the Strategic Housing Investment Plan will drive the delivery of the strategic objectives.

Those objectives include the delivery of 124 affordable homes each year over the next five years (by Angus Council and housing associations), including more than 30 homes each year for people who need adapted or specialised housing. The investment plan shows how those targets, which represent a doubling of new build rates, will be delivered and so contribute to the 50,000 national target of new affordable homes.

Communities convener, Councillor Craig Fotheringham, said this significant and ambitious investment in bricks and mortar will see the creation of modern, affordable and sustainable accommodation that people can be proud to call home.

He added: “We will improve the provision of affordable housing across Angus by building houses of the highest quality in the places where people need them most. Doing so will further enhance Angus’ ever-growing reputation as a great place to live, work and visit.

“Accessibility and energy efficiency will be the cornerstones of our housing design, so that we deliver homes that will stand the test of time for the benefit of people now and in future generations.”

Angus Council is committed to delivering 350 affordable homes over the next five years, including units at Viewmount and Chapelpark in Forfar that are set for completion later this year. Work begins onsite at Abbey Quarter in Arbroath shortly.

Both the strategy and the report have good foundations to build upon. Members of the communities committee heard that 87% of Angus Council Housing tenants are satisfied with the quality of their home with 80% considering that they get good value for money for the rent they pay.

Communities vice-convenor, Councillor Lois Speed, said: “We are very pleased that 83% of our tenants are satisfied with the service they receive, but we are determined to ensure that we keep improving.”