The new homes underline SBHA’s commitment to the provision of affordable housing in the more rural and remote communities that the Association serves, as well as in the Borders’ main towns.

New tenant Catriona, who has moved in with her daughter River, has been keen to move to Oxton to be nearer family for some time.

She said: “It’s really the answer to everything for us. It’s what we’ve wanted for years, but hadn’t seen any houses come up - we’ve been watching the development of these homes ever since planning permission was published.

“My Mum lives in Oxton, so we’re thrilled that we’ll be living so close by, that we’ll have a place we can call home, and I’ll be able to get back to work. The house has been built to such a high quality that I keep pinching myself that not only have I got back to Oxton but I’ve been offered such an amazing house.”

The benefits of the build for this small community reach beyond the homes themselves. Through partnership working between SBHA, Scottish Borders Council and Oxton and Channelkirk Community Council, improvements to the adjacent Council-owned playpark were carried out, as well as groundworks for a new community hub. The homes feature air source heating to allow Tenants to heat their homes economically as well as reducing impact on the environment.

Julia Mulloy, SBHA chief executive, added: “We are delighted to be welcoming families into these new homes. Our background research confirmed a specific need for affordable family homes in Oxton and the limited housing options for families in the area.

“A development such as this can help revitalise a small community, and this and our other new-build projects in Kelso and Peebles, our investment in our existing housing stock and our wide-ranging work with partners are all supporting the Borders economy in its recovery from the challenges of the past eighteen months.

“We’d like to thank Scottish Borders Council, and the Scottish Government alongside ECD Architects, Stan Tech Engineers and Crosbie Homes, the new build housing arm of Morris & Spottiswood for their roles in the development.”