TWENTY-EIGHT new affordable homes have been completed for rent in Clackmannanshire, under the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT).

The Coalsnaughton homes are the first to be delivered in the Wee County under NHT and will be available for rent to tenants at below market rates for five to 10 years.

Speaking of the finished development, housing minister Margaret Burgess, said: “I am delighted to announce the completion of this development, which delivers 28 new affordable homes for rent in Clackmannanshire.

“Developments such as this not only provide a boost for our construction sector and wider economy, but also offer people and families the chance to rent a new affordable home.

“NHT tenants all over Scotland have told me how delighted they are with their new, high quality homes, and the initiative is well on track to deliver over 2000 much needed new homes in communities across the country – all for very little taxpayers’ money.” The local homes are estimated to have unlocked around £4 million in housing development, to have supported 40 jobs and its completion brings the total number of NHT homes completed across Scotland to over 750.

Hadden Construction built the development, which comprises a mixture of eight flats and 20 houses.

Stephen Lynas, business development director with Hadden Construction, commented: “We’re delighted to have been involved in successfully delivering this much needed innovative mid-market rental housing for local people in partnership with Clackmannanshire Council. It has proved really popular with tenants and we could have built them twice over again to meet demand.” Developed by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Futures Trust, the NHT initiative is supported by a Scottish Government guarantee.

Councillor Les Sharp, convener of housing, health and social care, said: “I am delighted to see these new houses completed, and particularly to this high specification. It has also been very pleasing to see how well the contractor has engaged with both the new tenants and the local community throughout the whole planning and building process.

“The council is committed to increasing the number of houses for rent in Clackmannanshire, and the investment in this high quality development and the effective management of the lettings procedure has helped it become one of the most popular sites that we have had.”