North social housing society plan for 700 new homes in five years

A Highland housing association has announced plans to build more than 700 new affordable homes across the north within five years.Invergordon-based Albyn Housing Society said the new properties were “desperately needed” following years of limited development because of the economic downturn.The association will build 500 social rented, 100 mid-market rental and 125 low cost homes designed for first time buyers.Albyn is in the early stages of planning the developments – but Inverness, Easter Ross, Badenoch and Strathspey and around Loch Ness, are expected to be priority areas.Councillor Audrey Sinclair, chairwoman of Highland Council’s planning, development and infrastructure committee, said the announcement was “very welcome”.The new homes would increase Albyn’s social rented stock to more than 3,500 houses by 2020.It is estimated 1,750 new affordable homes are needed each year across the region, with 7,000 people listed on the Highland Housing Register.