PLANS to build more than 900 affordable homes in Argyll and Bute over the next six years have been welcomed – and one in six of them will be built in Helensburgh and Lomond.

The development proposals are contained in Argyll and Bute Council's new Strategic Housing Investment Plan [SHIP], approved by councillors at a recent meeting in Lochgilphead.

And Councillor Robin Currie, the authority’s policy lead for housing, roads and infrastructure services, hailed the ideas, which he said would retain and attract people to live in Argyll and Bute.

Almost half of the new homes scheduled for completion are at Dunbeg, near Oban, with 300 expected to be finished by 2020/21 and 150 more, across three phases, by 2025.

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Nearly 200 more are expected to be completed at various sites in and around Oban, including Ganavan, Glencruitten and Lonan Drive.

More than 150 are in the Helensburgh and Lomond area. These include 60 as part of plans to build on part of Helensburgh Golf Club's course, and 35 at the Sawmill Field site at the east end of the town, along with 25 proposed to be built in Cardross by 2025.

All are part of larger development proposals for each site.

In addition, the local area's contribution to the total also includes 10 new energy-efficient properties being built to the Passivhaus standard by Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) in Garelochhead.

Other affordable homes in the pipeline over the next six years include 50 on three sites on Islay (Keills, Port Ellen, Bowmore and Port Charlotte), 40 in Rosneath, 10 on Jura and five on Colonsay.

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Councillor Currie said: “Since 2017 we have seen 192 houses being completed in Argyll and Bute, and another 161 are due to be completed by April on 10 different sites, which is really good.

“The SHIP is planning to build more than 900 affordable homes in Argyll and Bute. In 31 years I have never heard of such an exciting programme of house building.

“I hope you would agree that this is a plan for growth, a plan that will retain and attract people to live in Argyll and Bute.

“It is a plan that is good for jobs, good for the construction industry and all knock-on services, good for apprenticeships and good for quality and affordable homes for many.

“It is a plan to be proud of and I am sure you will also agree with me in thanking all those concerned in drawing up the plans.”

READ MORE: Garelochhead set to host 10 new Passivhaus homes

The 353 homes quoted by Councillor Currie are not included in the 900 planned as part of the SHIP report.

Councillor Alastair Redman, the authority’s newly-appointed policy lead for economic growth, added: “When it comes to economic growth, housing is one of the key pillars and everything is linked to affordability and availabililty.

“It is good to see some of the areas that we are building in and this is a very welcome report.”

The council later confirmed that the proposals will now go forward to the Scottish Government for consideration.

Additional funding is required alongside the Scottish Government investment, and a significant contribution would come from the council’s Strategic Housing Fund, as well as Housing Association investment drawn from private sector borrowing.

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