Cash for homes

MORE THAN £4 million of government funding is being made available to help build social housing in Shetland over the next three years.

The new Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) sets a subsidy for every local authority and replaces a system whereby councils and housing associations had to bid for funds.

Housing minister Keith Brown said: “We have listened to councils and housing associations in the area and put in place a system of funding for housing based on forward planning instead of making councils and housing associations bid for funds.

“This will provide greater certainty and allow councils to make plans for the future.

“We are also encouraging the construction of greener, more energy efficient homes. And we also recognise the particular challenge for housing in remote and rural areas and will provide greater government subsidy for housing developments in those areas.”