Moves taken to ease housing market in Peebles

Published 17 Oct 2012 09:30

STEPS were taken to ease the high pressure housing market in Peebles this week with the opening of a new housing development.

Local Councillor Graham Garvie, Convenor of Scottish Borders Council and Councillor Frances Renton, Executive Member for Social Work shared the honours and jointly opened Eildon Housing Association's recent development at Cleland Avenue.

This high quality development of six family homes provides much needed affordable housing in this pressured housing market.

Eildon Housing Association, together with partners in central and local Government, has worked hard to find ever more innovative and effective ways of addressing housing need.

This project has been supported by over £400,000 of Scottish Government Grant, with a contribution of over £100,000 from Scottish Borders Council and Eildon Housing Association investing nearly £350,000 into these properties.

Councillor Graham Garvie said: "This excellent development and example of partnership working must only be the start of the provision of many more affordable houses in Peebles and throughout the Borders - and government at all levels working with local housing agencies must all continue to pull together to meet the basic rented housing needs of local people."

The properties have been designed and built to a high standard with two of the homes being designed to accommodate the needs of wheelchair users.

Special consideration has also been given to ensure that the properties sit well within their excellent location adjacent to existing houses and Victoria Park.

Councillor Frances Renton, Executive Member for Social Work said: "This development of warm, safe and energy efficient affordable homes is much needed here in Peebles and I know it will make a huge difference to the families who have recently moved in."

Nile Istephan, Chief Executive of Eildon Housing Association, added: "In high demand areas like Peebles we regularly have high numbers of applicants for properties.

"In the case of Cleland Avenue, there was an average of over 50 applicants for each home we allocated.

"The provision of high quality new supply affordable homes is even more important in the current economic climate, which is why we are pleased that despite the significant reductions of grant support over recent years, Eildon is able to continue to invest in new supply in the Borders.

"We hope our tenants are happy in their new homes."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 17 Oct 12

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