Permission is being sought for a £2 million Angus housing scheme including “homes for heroes” that was the subject of controversy this year.
Angus Council has lodged an application for the construction of 16 affordable houses for rent at the former Camus House residential home in Carnoustie.
The development is planned to include five houses for disabled ex-armed services personnel, and the 4,430 square metre site at West Path will see a mix of semi-detached and terraced housing.
Property services cite “positive feedback” for new build, affordable rental housing on the stretch of council-owned land after a number of discussions.
The home would be demolished under permitted development from next month, council officers are due to decide on the development by November 18. There will be 21 car parking spaces between the 16 properties.
Peter Bell writes: “As part of the local housing strategy, housing needs analysis of Carnoustie and the South Angus HousingMarket area has identified a need for smaller-sized houses of one or two bedrooms for affordable rent, with a smaller proportion of three bedroom houses.
“Current welfare reforms and demographic changes (with an increasing number of older people) are also resulting in a trend towards smaller accommodation being required to allow for people in socially rented accommodation to downsize.
“In addition to this, as part of the military covenant, the council with its partner Houses for Heroes Scotland, has identified a need for fully accessible single-storey family houses for disabled ex-service personnel.”
The Houses for Heroes Scotland properties emerged as a contentious part of the scheme when it was put before elected members earlier this year.
The charity will lease part of the Camus House site at a peppercorn £1 rent for 100 years in a move which supporters said would further Angus Council’s pioneering 2012 covenant aimed at assisting former and injured service personnel in their transition back to civvy street.
Despite widespread support for the Houses for Heroes plan, there was criticism from some quarters that the Carnoustie scheme had not included units for locals with additional needs.
The site will accommodate eight one-bedroom single-storey houses, two two-bedroom two-storey houses, one three-bedroom two-storey house for general rent, and four two-bedroom single-storey houses for the former service personnel renters along with one three-bedroom single-storey house.
As part of the application, the council has now notified residents in Dundee Street, Kirkton Terrace, Camus Court, West Path, and Thistle Street.