Reflecting local housing needs, more than a third of the high quality, highly energy-efficient properties at the site at Glenalmond Road, Rattray are amenity homes suitable for older people or tenants with particular housing needs.

Part of a larger private development being built by Springfield Homes, the project is being completed with the help of Scottish Government funding of £4.1m with the new social rent homes being owned by Kingdom and managed by Fairfield Housing Co-operative.

During a recent project visit to the site, representatives from Kingdom was joined by partners from the Scottish Government and from Perth & Kinross Council.

The council’s housing and communities convener, Councillor Peter Barrett, said: “It’s terrific to see the delivery of these new high-quality homes for social rent in an area where they will make a real difference to the local community. It’s especially pleasing that the development contains a high number of amenity homes for people with specific housing needs that will support tenants to live independently in their homes for longer.

“The council is committed to working alongside our Housing Association partners to provide more socially-rented housing for people across Perth and Kinross. In the last 12 months, the council and our partners delivered 191 additional homes for affordable rent and many more are in the pipeline.

“Kingdom has built these homes to a very high standard achieving the Government’s Silver Plus sustainability rating which will make them energy-efficient, affordable to heat and have low resource consumption.”

Bill Banks, group chief executive with Kingdom, said: “The quality of the new homes being provided is exceptionally high and the initial feedback from the new residents has been very positive, particularly in relation to the high insulation standards and specification which mean the houses will have very low energy costs.”

Bill added: “At Kingdom we have a long track record of collaborative working and through working in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council, Springfield Homes and Fairfield Housing Co-operative, we have been able to develop 50 new affordable homes, which will help meet current housing needs in the area and the needs of future generations.”

The second and final phase of the development will be completed and handed over to Kingdom in February 2020.