To mark the occasion, Paul McLennan MSP, Minister for Housing officially opened the Association’s latest development of houses and flats for rent.

The minister met with local residents who are directly benefitting from the additional affordable homes in the area and was shown around the new energy efficient development.

Housing minister Paul McLennan said: “I am delighted to have been invited by Grampian Housing Association to officially open these homes here in Forres and meet with some of the tenants. Supported by over £4.5 million of funding, from the Scottish Government’s affordable housing supply programme, the development provides a real mix of high quality, affordable homes, that will play a valuable role in the community.

“We are investing more than half a billion pounds in affordable homes across Scotland this year as we continue to support the delivery of housing.”

Speaking about completion of the development, Craig Stirrat, chief executive of Grampian Housing Association, said: “We aim to not just build great homes but also aim to ensure that our current and future tenants enjoy desirable, high quality places to live where everyone has equal opportunity to thrive and grow.

“We are extremely delighted to have worked with Springfield Partnerships to deliver these impressive new affordable homes in the tenure neutral community of Ferrylea, Forres.

“The homes represent Grampian’s ongoing commitment to the communities of Moray with one third of its 3,900 strong social rented property portfolio located throughout the area.”

The total scheme cost of £8 million attracted over £4.5m in grant from the Scottish Government with the balance funded by the Association.

Completed in three phases, the development comprises of one detached house (five-bedroom), 22 semi-detached houses (two, three and four-bedroom) and 20 cottage flats (one-bedroom). Set on the south side of Forres, on the edge of the countryside, these new homes are all within easy access to the local facilities and schools.

With high levels of insulation and air source heating systems installed, the new homes are providing affordable heating for tenants as well as helping the Association to meet its carbon reduction targets.

Tom Leggeat, Springfield Partnerships managing director, said: “We are really pleased to have delivered these high quality, energy efficient houses in Forres with Grampian and to have had the opportunity to meet the people who will be calling them home.

“It is also reassuring to see the housing minister proactively engaging with housing partners, at such a critical time, and we are pleased to have been part of the conversation to help address the housing emergency.”

Chair of Moray Council’s Housing and Community Safety Committee, Cllr Amber Dunbar, said: “It’s exciting to see energy efficient affordable housing is a priority for all the partners involved in this development. The variety of properties available is also consistent with the demand we’re seeing in Moray and I look forward to continuing to work with our partners to deliver even more affordable housing across the region.”

Grampian has a long-standing mission to provide new affordable homes across the North East of Scotland for social rent in high quality places to address the housing supply crisis.