Long-awaited plans for affordable housing on a gap site adjacent to Forfar’s Asda store have been lodged.
In what will be its first Angus venture, Dundee-based Abertay Housing Association is behind a near £2 million scheme to create 18 flats for older people on the slice of ground at New Road.
The ground has lain empty since the opening of the supermarket in late 2011 after the former Angus Council HQ site was bought for development.
Following the controversial disposal of the one-time base of town textile firm Don & Low — the local authority was forced to u-turn on a planned private deal and ended up receiving £1million in an open market sale — plans were approved for the supermarket and 16 flats.
Asda subsequently added a filling station to the New Road site, but concerns remained that the vacant ground, currently used by staff for parking, might lie undeveloped.
The Abertay Housing Association proposals now submitted to Angus Council are for four blocks of cottage-style flats.
Abertay asset manager Derek Black said: “Abertay Housing Association are delighted to be working jointly with Campion Homes on our first development in Angus which will see 16 new energy efficient homes for older people in Forfar.
“The £1.9m investment should be on site in April with the first homes being available later in the year.
“This growth out with Dundee represents a new opportunity for Abertay and we look forward to delivering these quality homes to new tenants.”
