The official opening of a £2.5 million housing association development between Forfar and Kirriemuir has been hailed as a boost for Angus in the face of the current economic climate.
Scottish housing minister Alex Neil yesterday performed the honours at Servite Housing Association’s St Ninian’s Road scheme in Padanaram village.
Yesterday’s event finally marked a successful conclusion to a project which suffered significant delays as a result of a “ransom strip” row centred on a tiny portion of land at the site opening.
Completed homes lay empty for many months while the land wrangle was thrashed out.
The 20-property development is a mix of cottages and family housing for rent, as well as purchase via a shared equity scheme.
Servite said that in line with demand for improved energy efficiency, the development incorporates a biomass district heating scheme, served by a central plant room which uses woodchips to provide all the heating and hot water for the homes.
Almost half the installation costs for the biomass scheme were secured through Forestry Commission grants.
The St Ninian’s project cost £2.5 million to build, part funded by £1.5 million from the Scottish Government.
Servite chief executive Julie Cosgrove said, “The opening of St Ninian’s Road, Padanaram, with its excellent layout and highly desirable houses, is a step forward for Servite and a boost for housing in general in rural Angus, especially in the current economic climate.
“We are delighted to have worked with another local contractor to turn what was fallow ground into a valuable resource of affordable housing that will benefit the village for many years to come,” she added.
Yesterday’s opening ceremony was preceded by a welcome event in Padanaram village hall for the new residents.