A pair of housing associations has signed up to an £8 million joint venture as part of a major housing development under way on the edge of Arbroath.
In a first for the two bodies, Angus and Cairn housing associations have agreed a partnership to deliver 71 affordable homes for rent in conjunction with Persimmon Homes as part of the housebuilder’s Muirlands Park development at East Muirlands Road, Arbroath.
Work is well underway at the 9.4 hectare greenfield site, on which Persimmon will be developing a further 216 homes for sale.
The associations said their joint venture was part of a contribution towards the delivery of a Scottish Government target of 50,000 affordable homes within the term of the current parliament.
Angus Housing Association director, Bruce Forbes said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Cairn Housing Association.
“When we were planning this project, it was clear that building 71 houses ourselves would have taken up a significant part of our capacity in Angus to help deliver the Scottish Government’s ambitious target for new homes to rent.
“We were therefore encouraged by Angus Council to find a development partner who could extend provision by widening out the investors in the Angus market.
“This is where the partnership with Cairn started and we are pleased that it has now reached the stage of starting on site.”
Cairn chief executive, Jason MacGilp, added: “We are excited to be working with Angus Housing Association to provide much needed new homes for affordable rent in Arbroath.
“We are also delighted that we have been able to do this in partnership with Angus who have a proven track record as a developer and the knowledge of the local market.
“Like Angus, we are determined that we should play our part in helping to meet the Scottish Government’s ambitious plans to transform social housing provision in Scotland over the next few years.
“We also hope to be able to extend our development partnership with Angus and we are excited by some future possible opportunities in both Angus and Dundee.”
The first homes to rent at Muirlands Park are scheduled to welcome tenants next May.
