Aberdeenshire Council is to commence work on a low energy affordable housing development in Fraserburgh.

The project, which will get underway later this month, secured £1.4m of Scottish Government funding.

The local council worked alongside experts at Robert Gordon University's (RGU) Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment to submit a bid for 30 low energy units to the Scottish Government's Greener Homes Innovation Scheme (GHIS), and successfully won a share of a £10m fund.

The fund is split between 14 projects across the country and aims to support house building schemes that offer new approaches to the delivery of energy efficient affordable housing, by using innovative methods of off-site construction.


The site in Aberdeenshire will see the delivery of 16 flats and 14 homes constructed on a brown field site on Quarry Road, Fraserburgh. The project is a key development for the council and will be subject to long-term monitoring upon completion as a case study for future low energy housing developments.

Recently, the Banff and Buchan Area Committee approved the local authority's planning application for the project, and initial works are expected to begin on site this month.

Chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Social Work and Housing Committee, Councillor Karen Clark, said: "The council strives to use the best in energy efficient technology in our properties and the Greener Homes Innovation Scheme funding will help us to do that. This is an exciting opportunity to work with experts at Robert Gordon University in using the latest methods in construction of our affordable housing.

"This scheme will employ innovative methods to help us meet our sustainable aims and we will monitor the development, in the hope of using the same technology in future housing schemes."

(JP/IT)