Councillors have approved a grant of £26,350 to Dunbritton Housing Association from the Strategic Housing Fund to will enable the development of 12 affordable houses in Helensburgh.

The Scottish Government also offered funding in addition to the Dunbritten Housing Association’s private contribution. Argyll and Bute Council will meet the remaining funding gap to deliver the project.

Planning permission is already in place to build the homes on the site, located at East King Street in the centre of Helensburgh.

In the council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) and Local Housing Strategy, Helensburgh is a priority settlement for housing with high levels of need and demand.

Councillor Robin Currie, leader of Argyll and Bute Council, said: “Helensburgh is one of a number of areas across Argyll and Bute in which we have identified a pressing requirement for new housing development.

“Delivering new homes is a key priority for the Council as we confirmed recently in declaring a housing emergency and highlighting the rise in homelessness post-pandemic and the increasing lack of housing choice across Argyll and Bute.

“This new support from the Strategic Housing Fund will be warmly welcomed in Helensburgh and is further evidence of our commitment to tackling the housing issue in the region.”

Meanwhile on Colonsay, councillors approved a loan of £445,000 through the Strategic Housing Fund to Colonsay Community Development Company (CCDC) to progress an affordable housing development at Scalasaig.

The CCDC is delivering the development in partnership with Communities Housing Scotland and will see nine affordable homes plus three self-build plots.

On target to complete by October 2023, the development includes four rented properties, two low host Home ownership properties, and three rented properties for exclusive use of MOWI, the fish farm company.

MOWI has contributed to the capital costs of the projects to enable the company to have exclusive rights to the three properties identified for their staff use.

Councillor Currie added: “Housing is a key priority for the council as we confirmed recently in declaring a housing emergency. There is an increasing lack of housing choice across Argyll and Bute that will have a long-term impact on the local economy.

“Providing support via the Strategic Housing Fund to enhance the availability of homes on Colonsay is further evidence of our commitment to tackling the housing issue in the region.”

Both agreements build on the council’s commitment to tackling the housing emergency across Argyll and Bute.