Grampian Housing Association is celebrating the completion of three developments of new affordable homes, increasing its portfolio of properties for social rent throughout the North-east of Scotland.

The developments were completed in partnership with Scotia Homes which provides homes in village style communities. Eleven properties have been built at Dubford, Aberdeen while in Aberdeenshire 32 properties have been completed in Peterhead and 10 properties completed in Foveran.

To mark the occasion, Kevin Stewart MSP, minister for local government and housing, officially opened the Dubford development, a mix of 3 three bedroom houses and 8 one, two and three apartments for social rent. The minister met local residents who are directly benefiting from the additional affordable homes in the area and was shown around the new development itself.

Grampian Housing Association received over £828k of funding from the Scottish Government towards the cost of the £1.46 million development at Dubford.

The houses and apartments at Perwinnes Brae and Perwinnes Crescent are aimed at people seeking affordable housing in the Aberdeen housing market area.

The development is part of Aberdeen City Council’s Strategic Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) agreed with the Scottish Government. Dubford contributes to Aberdeen City Council’s aim to increase the supply of affordable housing to meet local housing need.

Grampian is committed to providing further affordable homes for rent with Scotia Homes in Cove, Aberdeen and Newburgh, Aberdeenshire.

Kevin Stewart MSP said: “Housing is a priority for this government which is why we have set an ambitious target to deliver 50,000 affordable homes during the lifetime of this Parliament with at least 35,000 of these being for social rent.

“The completion of this development is a great example of how the Scottish Government is helping to provide high-quality, efficient and affordable homes for people across the country.”

Peter Kennedy, chairman of Grampian Housing Association, said: “We are working hard to deliver over 400 affordable homes in the Aberdeen housing market area and beyond by 2021. There is still work to be done, but these additional homes are another milestone of our ambition realised.”

Cllr Sandra Macdonald, Aberdeen City Council’s housing spokesperson, said: “Aberdeen City Council prioritised this project as part of our Strategic Housing Investment Programme and it is another welcome and positive step as part of a city-wide focus on increasing the supply of social housing. We will continue to work closely with Grampian Housing Association and other organisations with shared goals, in tandem with our own ambitious Council house building programme.”

Martin Bruce, managing director, Scotia Homes, added: “Scotia Homes are delighted to continue its long standing relationship with Grampian Housing Association and we believe our commitment to creating great places is enhanced by the partnership approach with Grampian who have an excellent reputation for providing mixed tenure housing and maintaining its investment in the built environment to high standards.”

Looking to the future, Grampian Housing Association said it aims to continue to be an important part of the regional mix to encourage economic development and support a healthy economy. The Scottish Government recognises that the supply of new affordable housing needs to be a high priority. Grampian said it is keen to support this by working with the public and voluntary sectors to bring forward affordable land for development, as well as private house builders and developers to source opportunities and seek funding to develop more social housing in the North-east.