The 12 new-build properties, consisting of six one bedroomed flats and six two-bedroomed flats are located at Hood Court, which has been renamed Duchess Court, and marks the first new-build housing by ACHA in the town.

They were opened in a ceremony attended by members of ACHA, local councillors, members of St Joseph’s Primary School and new residents.

There are currently around 600 people on the common housing waiting list for affordable housing in Helensburgh, and chief executive of ACHA Alistair MacGregor said the new flats would help address the backlog.

He said: “Obviously from our point of view, we have a waiting list of around 600 so it’s important to have this for the future.

“I am delighted we have been able to build our first affordable homes for rent in Helensburgh, they will go some way to meeting housing needs in the town.” It will cost tenants £70.85 a week to rent a one-bedroomed property, whilst a two-bedroomed property will cost £86 a week.

The rents will include a service charge for communal maintenance.

Mr McGregor said he wanted to thank Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Government, who contributed to the costs of the homes alongside ACHA.

The opening ceremony of Duchess Court provided a chance for the Helensburgh community to get involved, including Hermitage Academy pupil Hayley Ramsay, who came up with the winning name Duchess Court through a competition at St Joseph’s Primary School when she was in P7.

She helped to open the flats alongside Helensburgh Central councillor Aileen Morton As part of the competition run last April, six local schools in Helensburgh were invited to participate in a competition to name the new development.

They were asked to submit the top five street names chosen by their primary school pupils and Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee then considered these names before agreeing on Duchess Court. Hayley said the name had personal connections for her and her family.

She added: “I had two dogs and they passed away when the competition was happening and we used to take them out to Duchess Woods for walks.” Hayley said it had been an ‘honour’ to meet Councillor Morton and to help open the flats.

The new community housing in Helensburgh is just one of several projects ACHA have undertaken for the Argyll and Bute area.

Mr MacGregor said there were plans to build a further 16 houses in Helensburgh but a site for these still had to be identified.

Work started on Duchess Court, a previous home to garages which had reached the end of their useful life, last March.

The garage site was knocked down by ACHA in 2008, and was then used by residents for car parking and for children to play until planning permission was granted last year.

There are 15 parking spaces in the new blocks, including two designated disabled bays and common drying areas for both blocks.

Councillor Morton said: “As both a councillor for the Helensburgh Central ward and a member of the ACHA local area committee it was a pleasure to formally open the new flats at Duchess Court.

“It was a gloriously sunny day for the opening and I was delighted to be joined by not just representatives from ACHA but by Hayley, the pupil from St Joseph’s Primary who came up with the name for the development.

“The building of the flats has been supported by funding from both Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Government, which helps to keep properties available to rent at an affordable rate.” “There are currently nearly 600 people on the housing waiting list for Helensburgh, so it’s great to see this much-needed housing become available.” Cllr Morton said the new homes were not just houses, but an opportunity for people to create a home and a life for themselves.

The opening of Duchess Court was also welcomed by Helensburgh and Lomond’s MSP Jackie Baillie, who said the new flats would tackle a shortage of affordable housing in Helensburgh and encourage young people to stay in the town.

Not including Duchess Court, 90 affordable homes have been built in Helensburgh over the past five years.

Ms Baillie said: “I welcome the completion of the development and I hope that these new homes will help deal with the shortage of affordable housing in Helensburgh.

“We need more homes built in the right places and it is important that housing associations and private developers work alongside local residents to address the needs of families in Helensburgh and Lomond.” She added: “Scottish Labour has a plan to ensure that everyone is able to live in a safe, warm and affordable home by building 100,000 new houses across Scotland.

“This would help young people in towns like Helensburgh who cannot afford to buy a house in their own community and feel they have to move elsewhere to settle down.”