The latest Scottish Borders Council Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP), which is submitted annually to the Scottish Government, was approved by the council’s executive committee yesterday.

It is anticipated that the large majority of the homes would be delivered by local registered social landlords.

In addition to outlining the potential delivery of affordable housing, including how and where these could be delivered, the rolling five year plan also sets out investment priorities and identifies the resources required and potential innovative funding and procurement solutions. It also includes regeneration projects, including that planned by Waverley Housing in Upper Langlee.

In the next two years, it is estimated that approximately 751 new affordable homes could be delivered, and up to 1,047 overall by the end of 2024, including several extra care housing developments. This assumes any land and infrastructure challenges are resolved and that the constructions sector has the capacity to deliver the projects. It is also based on assumed funding from the Scottish Government, partner private sector borrowing and the use of the council’s affordable housing budget.

Councillor Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for business and economic development, said: “As a council we are determined to support the delivery of much needed affordable homes across the area. This helps young people stay and work in the area, have families and put down roots here. That has a significant, long term positive impact on our local economy.

“More than 1,000 affordable homes would go a long way to meeting housing needs in our communities over the next five years and would also help support the local construction sector, providing a further boost to the economy.

“It is an ambitious plan and there are certainly some challenges, from land supply to funding, but we continue to work very closely with a range of partners, including registered social landlords and the Scottish Government, to maximise opportunities to deliver more affordable homes.”