New foundations are being laid by council

HIGHLAND Council has handed over the first 10 new houses in Grantown – the first to be built by the local authority in the town for a generation.

Local councillors Bill Lobban and Muriel Cockburn paid a visit to welcome Lorna Cottam and her two children, Tavish (9) and Della (7) to their new home at Beachen Court on Monday.

The development is made up of four two bedroom flats with the ground floor flats suitable for people with disabilities, four two bedroom houses and two three bedroom houses.

The Right to Buy legislation introduced by Margaret Thatcher's government in the early 1980s allowing tenants to buy their council properties at heavily discounted prices put an end to most of the council's house building programme.

The council started to build again in 2010 when stock in heavily pressurised areas could no longer be sold. Right to buy was eventually scrapped across Scotland in summer 2016.

Monday was a day to remember for the first tenants too. Tavish was diagnosed in 2017 with Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia so he, mum Lorna and sister Della are delighted to have left an upper floor flat in the town for the new home.

Councillor Lobban said: "The council is committed to working with the Scottish Government, housing associations and the private sector to provide people with well-built, energy efficient homes and I am pleased to say that more houses are scheduled to be completed across the strath in the coming months and years.

"I'm impressed with the design and high quality of the new homes and having them so energy efficient will really help keep heating costs down. A bonus is the stunning views of the Cairngorms. We hope Lorna, Tavish, Della and all the other tenants moving into Beachen Court enjoy many happy years in their new homes."

Councillor Cockburn said: "I'm delighted at the quality homes and high level of finishes. It's great we can offer residents quality and deserved accommodation. We must now get on using the money allocated from Scottish Government and ensure we deliver more much-needed affordable housing."

The houses are well insulated and have electric heating coupled with photo-voltaic panels which generate electricity to keep the tenants' fuel costs low. Each home has its own loc-bloc car park near the front door. The project was designed and managed by the council's development and infrastructure service.

RS McLeod Ltd carried out the construction works which started on site in July last year. The Highland housing investment plan 2018-2023 includes locally Inverdruie (six homes), the rear of Grantown's police station (4), Newtonmore (14) Sluggan Drive, Aviemore (14) and Cromdale (5) in its first phase.