by Andrew Galloway, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 130 new affordable homes are earmarked for Helensburgh under new plans to go before Argyll and Bute Council – and there could be more to follow.
A document on proposals for Argyll and Bute Council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) will be presented to councillors on Thursday.
It shows that in the last two years two sites with affordable homes have been completed – five homes in Luss, and a 26-home development in Succoth, where all the tenants have now moved in.
It states that if approved, 60 new affordable homes could be built on a site by Helensburgh Golf Club by Dunbritton Housing Association by 2022, with a further 16 on the ‘18th tee’ site by 2020.
Thirty-two properties are currently under construction for Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) at the site of the former Jutland Court at the west end of the town, now known as Castle Wood Court, while Link Housing could have 25 homes at the Sawmill Field site on the eastern edge of Helensburgh by 2021.
Plans are also under consideration for 18 further homes at Castle Wood Court, while the report states that development of other venues, including Blairvadach, Garelochhead and Rhu, is also being considered.
The report, by executive director of development and infrastructure services Pippa Milne, said: “The current year, 2018/19, is covered by a Strategic Local Programme Agreement while the new SHIP is intended to commence from 2019/20.
“It should be noted that the status of many future projects, particularly in the later years, remains provisional and purely indicative at this stage; some may not proceed within the timescale.
“However, there is also scope for additional proposals to be brought forward or included in earlier years.
“Alternative sites are also being considered, such as council-owned sites at Blairvadach and Rhu.
“A private site at the Jeanie Deans Unit, Helensburgh is also under consideration.”
The report also said that funding available to Argyll and Bute from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme had increased substantially and stood at over £50m for the next three years.
In total, the SHIP aims to deliver more than 800 affordable new homes across Argyll and Bute, with a council Strategic Housing Fund contribution of over £9m.
The full document is available here: ABC SHIP 2019.20-23.24 approved draft 23.10.18
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