16 New affordable homes to be built in the City of Inverness

The Highland Housing Alliance has announced it has signed a contract to build sixteen new homes at Inverness’ Raining’s Stairs, bringing much needed affordable housing to local people and families and reinvigorating a brownfield area of the City. The first phase began on site on 5 June 2017 with completion due by Summer 2018.The Raining’s Stairs development is being built in partnership with the Highland Housing Alliance, The Highland Council, Ark Estates and William Gray Construction Ltd with funding from the Scottish Government as part of the City-Region Deal.The City-Region Deal business case was approved on 25 May 2017 which releases £5m funding from the Scottish Government for affordable housing across the Highlands. This pan Highland project will include the development of a package of support to increase the availability of affordable housing for young people led by The Highland Council.This development will comprise sixteen, one and two bedroom flats. Six flats will be available at an affordable rent from The Highland Council and ten flats will be available at a mid-market rent from the Highland Housing Alliance as part of the affordable housing project. The development will also include a commercial unit, suitable for use as an office or retail space.The apartments will be named after the adjacent Raining’s Stairs, located within Inverness City Centre. Raining’s Stairs originally served Raining’s School which opened at the top of the stairs in 1747. The Stairs were named after the school’s founder, John Raining, and connect the Crown area to the City centre.The configuration of the homes will feature 16 apartments built in three staged sections which flow to create a single contemporary development. It will also feature an attractive residents walkway with landscaping and planting, with a natural stone wall and vertical timber cladding around the buildings. Secure cycle storage features for each building and located behind the commercial unit.The Highland Housing Alliance (HHA) is a not-for-profit development company that builds private houses for sale and rent and facilitates affordable housing for families and people living in Highland communities. The company handles the management and maintenance of HHA rented homes. Further information from www.highlandhousingalliance.com (external link)The City-Region Deal is worth £315 million of investment and is made up of a portfolio of projects to deliver inclusive economic growth. A key component of this inclusive economic this is the affordable housing project. This affordable housing is being partly funded by £5m of Scottish Government funding to deliver mid-market rental properties. The first development will be 10 properties, built as part of the Raining’s Stairs regeneration project in the centre of Inverness.