The new five-year Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) will be discussed at a Scottish Borders Council meeting on Tuesday, 29 November.

The document identifies how local housing needs and priorities will be addressed, including which housing projects are anticipated to be delivered by 2022.

With between £8.6m - £15m potentially available via the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme, along with private sector borrowing by registered social landlords, it is estimated almost 1,200 new affordable homes could be built.

The draft Local Housing Strategy 2017-2022 estimates 348 new houses should be delivered each year in the Scottish Borders, 128 of which should be affordable. In the first two years of the new SHIP, 449 affordable homes are estimated for delivery across the Scottish Borders, including Kelso, Lilliesleaf, Duns, Eyemouth and Oxton.

Cllr Frances Renton said: “At this time, providing various issues are resolved and funding secured, there is real optimism that over the next five years we will see a significant number of affordable homes built right across the Scottish Borders, potentially more than double the number delivered in the previous five-year period.

“This will provide vital accommodation for local people and families, enabling them to live and work in their communities, while also providing a welcome boost to the local building industry.”