Rural Stirling Housing Association (RSHA) has celebrated its 25th anniversary with the start of work on 14 new affordable homes for rent in Strathblane.

RSHA was first registered in December 1990. It recently celebrated the start of its 25th anniversary year with a social event attended by current committee and staff members as well as some of the people who played a key role in setting the Association up at that time.

During the event the Association was presented with a Stirling Council Civic Plaque by Baillie Violet Weir, the council’s housing portfolio holder.

Baillie Weir commended the Association for its contribution over the years to meeting housing needs in the rural area, in partnership with the council.

RSHA chair Margaret Vass spoke about the achievements of the Association during its first quarter of a century. She noted that these had only been possible because of the many thousands of hours of time and effort contributed by volunteer management committee members.

She highlighted the particular role played at the time of the Association’s formation by several people present at the event. These included a number of the original management committee members as well as individuals from partner agencies.

All were presented with a copy of a recently published book titled “Affordable Homes in Rural Scotland: the role of Housing Associations” (by Raymond Young; published by Capercaillie). This includes a chapter on the formation and early years of RSHA.

Margaret Vass also described the Association’s particular pride in continuing to build new homes in the rural area. RSHA has recently started work on 14 homes for rent at Campsie Road, Strathblane – the first new affordable homes to be built in the village for over 40 years. The ceremonial turf-breaking was carried out by management committee member David Frood – a local resident and one of the Association’s founder members.

He said: “Strathblane was one of the priority areas for new homes when the Association was first established but it was always difficult to find an affordable site. It’s great that we have finally managed to get there, and in close consultation with the Community Council. These homes will be an asset for the future of the village.”