The move is the latest action by the local authority to tackle Argyll and Bute’s housing emergency which was declared in June 2023.

One of the main issues identified at that time was a severe lack of accommodation for the area’s key workers, particularly those delivering essential health and social care services.

Grants from the Strategic Housing Fund will now support provision of accommodation for health and social care staff.

Funding has been approved for:

• Two NHS properties on Coll to be brought back into use for Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) staff delivering health and social care services on the island (£100,000)
• A council-owned property to be brought back into use for HSCP staff delivering health and social care services on Tiree (£80,000)
• Refurbishment of an Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) owned 4-bedroom property in Lorn to house HSCP staff and contract workers delivering care to households in the community (£100,000)
• The first phase of delivering worker accommodation properties at Tobermory on Mull (£250,000)

Council leader Robin Currie, said: “A lack of suitable accommodation for workers was one of the main areas of concern identified when we first outlined the extent of the housing crisis affecting Argyll and Bute last year.

“We have worked closely with our health and social care partners and with community bodies across Coll, Tiree, Mull and in the Lorn area to identify solutions to this critical issue.

“This new support from the Strategic Housing Fund will deliver vital accommodation for our key workers and ensure that the essential services they provide continue to be delivered to our communities.”