Council completes ten new homes at Dulnain Bridge
A housing development at Dulnain Bridge in Badenoch & Strathspey has reached a key milestone as the Highland Council and Highland Housing Alliance (HHA) proceeded with the official handover of the properties.
With a range of two-to four-bedroom homes available across the site, the demand for the development has attracted a wide demographic, providing much needed social and mid-market homes to the area.
Housing and property committee chair, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair, said: “Affordable and accessible housing is a key priority in the council’s Programme and the completion of ten new homes in Dulnain Bridge, makes our commitment to delivering affordable, sustainable and energy efficient social and mid-market housing a reality for those that will make Dulnain Bridge their new homes. Allowing people, the opportunity to prosper and grow and in turn support wider economic growth.
“Working in partnership with HHA is key to enabling housing priorities to be met and we look forward to continuing that journey as further new build/redevelopment opportunities arise.”
The Highland Council acquired the site in 2019 and oversaw the development and delivered the new housing development in partnership with the Scottish Government, City Region Deal and HHA. Dulnain Bridge development has ten homes of mixed tenures, helping to address the acute demand for much-needed homes in the area.
The main contractor was Aviemore-based contractor Allan Munro Construction. The appointment of a local contractor helps to support the local supply chain and workforce, as much as possible. They have built four two-bed semi-detached houses, one three-bed bungalow, one four-bed bungalow for social rent and an additional four three-bed semi-detached homes for mid-market-rent (MMR).
HHA, working in partnership with the Highland Council, Scottish Government, and Inverness City Region Deal, have delivered four mid-market rent family homes to the area, offering rental rates which are lower than private market but higher than social rent levels.
HHA CEO Gail Matheson said: “The completion of four new homes within the Cairngorms National Park has attracted significant interest, highlighting the strong demand for housing in the area. We are currently going through the allocation process for these new homes and are looking forward to welcoming the new tenants.”
The Scottish Government also helped to boost the delivery of the Dulnain Bridge development with a £965,060 grant.
The Inverness and Highland City Region deal is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.