The development in Gaskhill Road, Balbeggie, consisting of 16 new units – eight houses and eight flats – will provide much-needed affordable social housing for people in the Strathmore area of Perth and Kinross.

Built by Perthshire-based Hadden Construction, the properties have been were handed over to Perth & Kinross Council last month.

The £2,193,000 development was funded in partnership by Perth & Kinross Council and the Scottish Government, as part of the council’s commitment to increase the supply of high-quality social housing in the area.

The council’s affordable house building programme has delivered around 170 new council homes in the last three years through, with properties constructed in Methven, Scone, Alyth, Inchture, Blairgowrie, Auchterarder and Perth. Many more are in the pipeline.

The Balbeggie development consists of eight one-bedroom flats; four mid terrace two-bedroom houses and four end terrace three-bedroom houses. All the new homes are built with the latest energy saving specifications to help cut the bills of tenants and reduce the carbon footprint of the Perth and Kinross area.

Mr Swinney said: “I’m delighted to be here to open these homes - the latest addition to the council’s social housing stock in Perth and Kinross. These new high-quality houses and flats will not just change the lives of the tenants who live in them, they will also make a significant contribution to the development of the community of Balbeggie. It’s fantastic to see the difference this investment will make to the lives of local people.”

Leader of the council, Councillor Ian Miller, added: “As a council we are determined to increase the level of social housing in Perth and Kinross. We have made very good progress over the last three years through our house building programme, and a more extensive programme over the next few years will continue to deliver new homes for people right across our area. This is one of our key priorities.”

Housing & health convener, Councillor Dave Doogan, said: “It’s terrific news that this new development in Balbeggie has been delivered, allowing new tenants to move in. All of these new properties have been built to the highest standard in an area where there is a shortage of affordable housing for local families.

“The council is able to build these properties thanks in part to the revenue that comes from rent that is paid by existing council tenants. By paying their rent in full and on time, not only are our tenants paying for their own homes, they are helping other people in housing need by giving us the means to increase our housing stock and provide homes for others. That’s what living in social housing is all about.”

Hadden Construction chairman, Scott Hadden, added: “We’re delighted to be playing our part in successfully delivering this further phase of new build housing for our own local authority which also includes ongoing developments of further homes in Alyth & Rattray.”