The 10 new homes at Southfield Meadows in Abernethy are extremely energy efficient, with triple glazed windows, insulated external doors, hybrid heating systems that include an air source heat pump and solar roof panels all included to help cut tenants’ bills.

The £1.6m build is made up of:

• Two terraced blocks of three two-storey houses (6 houses in total). Three of the houses have 3 bedrooms, and the other three have 2 bedrooms.
• One block of 4 cottage flats (all 2 bedrooms).

The homes were built by the council’s Perthshire-based construction partner Hadden Group, and are part of a total build of 39 new houses. As well as the homes for affordable social rent, six new shared equity properties to help people onto the housing ladder have also been included in the development.

A total of £663,159 was received in subsidy from the Scottish Government for the development.

The Abernethy project is part of Perth & Kinross Council’s multi-million-pound new-build housing programme, which has seen almost 400 new council homes built for tenants since 2012.

To date, new homes for affordable social rent have been delivered in towns and villages right across the region, including Methven, Scone, Alyth, Inchture, Stanley, Blairgowrie, Meigle, Auchterarder, Balbeggie, Rattray and in many sites in Perth.

The council’s Housing and Social Wellbeing convener, Councillor Tom McEwan, visited the Abernethy development yesterday and said: “These new high-quality homes for affordable social rent will transform the lives of all tenants who move in. They will help to address the accommodation needs of different types of tenants, in a rural location where there is high demand for accommodation.

“I’m particularly pleased to see the level of energy efficiency that has been built into the homes. As a council and as a Housing Service, we are committed to minimising the environmental impact of everything we do. The efficient heating systems, top-grade insulation and solar panels included in the homes will help tenants keep their bills as low as possible and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the development.

“As well as providing high-quality, energy-efficient homes, this fantastic new development will add vibrancy to life in the village of Abernethy, supporting the local community and economy.”

Steven Brady, managing director, Hadden Group, added: “We’re delighted to see these much-needed new homes successfully delivered by our talented locally based construction team. This development continues the excellent working relationship we have with the council with further apartments underway in Fairfield, Perth.”