First Minister Alex Salmond stated the Government is on track with its commitment to deliver 30,000 affordable homes, including at least 20,000 for social rent.
The Minister made the comments as he opened a new housing development in Argyll.
Yesterday (27 August), Mr Salmond met with residents at the £5.267m Park Terrace affordable housing development in Campbeltown.
The development consists of 32 homes for rent and was funded by the Scottish Government, Argyll and Bute Council and Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA). The project was completed over a two-year period by local firm MacLeod Construction, providing 60 jobs.
The Government's affordable homes pledge is to be met within the current five-year Parliamentary session.
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As a result of the most recent housing completions, of which the figures have just been released, a total of 14,298 affordable homes (48% of 30,000) have been delivered within nine quarters. These include 10,611 council homes and registered social landlord homes (53% of the social rented housing target), with a further 11 quarters to go.
Mr Salmond said: "With more than 14,200 affordable homes completed in just over two years, the Scottish Government is well on track to meet our pledge to deliver 30,000 affordable homes over the lifetime of this parliament, including 20,000 social homes.
"We are working closely with our housing sector partners to increase the pace of approvals and this will be greatly enhanced by our decision, announced last month, to increase the grant for every new council and housing association property by £16,000 for each new home.
"We have boosted our budgets for new affordable homes considerably and will now invest almost £950 million in the three years to March 2015. Despite reductions to our capital budgets and the challenges facing housing associations, we're committed to providing more affordable homes across Scotland, especially in rural areas such as Kintyre.
"Scotland's countryside – its people, its produce, its place – is one of our greatest national assets. However, the Scottish Government recognises the challenges faced by communities in remote and rural areas, not least in trying to find quality, affordable homes. The Park Terrace development is at the heart of Campbeltown's waterfront area and forms part to the wider regeneration of the town. It provides much-needed new homes for more than 100 people, having also supported jobs in the area."
(JP/CD)
