Dundee City Council has signed an agreement with industry body Homes for Scotland (HFS) aimed at ensuring the on-going delivery of the range of homes required to meet the needs of its population.

Building on the positive relationship between the council and the home building industry, the agreement signifies a commitment to further improve the way they work together to deliver more homes and increase the social and economic benefits for the city.

In addition to improving lines of communication between member companies and the council, HFS will encourage home builders to promote the wider community benefits that result from the developments they investment in, as well as the varied apprenticeships, skills and training opportunities that they create.

Reciprocally, the council will pursue positive interventions to identify, release and unlock land for housing. It will also look to attract funding to ensure that the delivery of the necessary infrastructure (such as roads, education and healthcare) is aligned.

Applauding the council’s forward-thinking approach to housing delivery, HFS chief executive, Nicola Barclay, said: “Dundee is one of the country’s most progressive local authorities when it comes to planning ahead for housing and infrastructure, and it has long recognised the wider benefits development offers in terms of regenerating and sustaining communities, supporting business and creating jobs. Through the enabling culture it demonstrates in this agreement, it is leading the way in how it chooses to positively collaborate with the companies who will deliver the homes needed by those who want to live in this unique and dynamic city.”

Councillor Lynne Short, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said: “It is vital that we ensure that the right mix of houses are built in the right place at the right time to meet the wide and varied demands of people who want to live in Dundee.

“Achieving that relies on co-operation and collaboration between all of the participants in the process and this agreement seeks to ensure that we are delivering high quality homes in sustainable locations.”

The agreement was signed at Springfield Properties’ Dykes of Gray village on the outskirts of the city. As well as providing 600 new homes, the new community will include shops, play areas, health facilities and business opportunities. With around 60 people working on site, the development also supports many local trades and suppliers, and will bring substantial investment in the area for many years to come.