News / Social housing boost
SHETLAND will see more new council and housing association properties being built over the next few years thanks to an increase in government funding.
On Wednesday the Scottish government announced that £300 million would be spent on social housing in 2015/16. Almost £2 million has been earmarked for Shetland, with the council expecting more money to come in later.
SIC housing manager Anita Jamieson said the funding would allow the council and Hjaltland Housing Association to plan for the future with confidence.
Jamieson was unable to say how many new homes could be built, but said it would be more than in previous years.
“In terms of how many houses this could deliver I couldn’t say at this stage, but it is more than we previously thought,” she said.
“We will be planning on the basis of a substantial increase, so that is really good for Shetland, but the detail of all that is still a little bit away yet.”
She said that she hoped the eventual funding would be even higher than the £1.981 million announced by housing minister Margaret Burgess.
The council will work with HHA to maximise the number of properties they can build, bearing in mind the housing association receives £68,000 for every unit they build, while the council only receives £48,000.
Hjaltland Housing Association is in the process of completing 15 new flats at the old North Star, in Lerwick’s Harbour Street.
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