Present at the sod cutting for the development were Gregor Cameron, director of Macdonald & Cameron; Gerry Boyle, chair of WHHA’s Board; Cllr Robin Currie, leader of Argyll & Bute Council; Brett Sadler, CEO of WHHA; Stuart Jackson & Stuart Jackson, site managers for MacLeod Construction Ltd.

The new development at Port Charlotte will comprise 12 units for social rent and four units that will be available to purchase through the Scottish Government’s New Supply Shared Equity scheme.

The project is being funded by the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme, Argyll and Bute Council’s Strategic Housing Fund, and WHHA.

Brett Sadler, CEO of WHHA, said: “It’s great that we can start on site with another much needed development of new housing for Islay. This will help meet the demand for more housing to support the continued growth of the island population.”

Councillor Robin Currie, leader of Argyll and Bute Council, said: “Working in partnership to deliver housing solutions is key to addressing the current housing emergency in Argyll and Bute.

“We are delighted to be working with the Scottish Government, West Highland Housing Association and MacLeod Construction to deliver much needed affordable housing in Port Charlotte.

“Breaking the ground on this development is a key milestone that will see the first affordable houses built in the West of Islay for a number of years and help address housing need and demand. We look forward to progressing similar developments across Argyll and Bute in the future.”

Housing minister Paul McLennan added: “The right to a warm, safe and affordable home is critical to wellbeing and is a right everyone deserves. The Port Charlotte development, which the Scottish Government has supported with over £2.1 million of funding, will enable West Highland Housing Association to provide 16 new high quality, energy efficient homes on Islay. These new homes will play an important part in helping the local community to thrive.”

The project team for the development includes CMA Architects, Cowal Design Consultants, Ardmore Point, Martin Aitken Associates and Macdonald & Cameron.