Covering the period from 2018 to 2023, the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) identifies how local housing needs and priorities will be addressed, including which housing projects are anticipated to be delivered over the five years.

The plan suggests that 1,177 affordable homes could be delivered across the region, based on assumed funding amounts and that all land and infrastructure challenges are resolved in a timely manner and the construction sector has capacity to deliver projects.

It is anticipated that the large majority of the homes would be delivered by local registered social landlords.

Councillor Mark Rowley, who is executive member for business and economic development, said it was “very exciting for lots of people”.

“Over the last 10 years we have delivered about 800 affordable homes so this is significantly ramping it up,” he said.

“Officers have put in a huge amount of work with lots of partners - including the registered social landlords - to identify sites right across the Borders that are highly deliverable.”

He said work was already under way on a number of sites to ensure the target home numbers could be reached.

“We think it is incredibly ambitious but we also think it is incredibly deliverable,” he added.