An innovative plan to create homes for injured military heroes in Angus is to take a major step forward.
Veterans’ charity leaders last year praised Angus Council for penning a pledge to provide properties for ex-service personnel returning to civvy street and the commitment will be carried forward if councillors improve a proposal for the redevelopment of the Camus House care home in Carnoustie.
It is being replaced by the new Kinloch care centre in the town, and under ambitious multi-million-pound proposals, housing chiefs hope to build a dozen new council houses, along with five specially-adapted properties for a partnership with the Houses for Heroes Scotland charity.
Neighbourhood services committee councillors will be asked to move the project on by agreeing the demolition of the old building and putting in place a 100-year lease arrangement for the ambitious new programme.
In a report to councillors, director Ron Ashton said the council signed a military covenant in 2012 to provide help and assistance for ex-service personnel to make the transition from military life back into the community, as well as providing well-designed and appropriate housing for those returning from conflict with serious injury.
“Camus House has yet to be formally declared surplus as preparations are currently ongoing for the move to the newly-built Kinloch Care Centre,” states Mr Ashton’s report.
“The location of Camus House in the south of Angus, the most pressured area in terms of affordable housing availability and an area that is well served by public transport, makes it eminently suitable as a site for both new-build council housing and for military family charity groups.
“Under this proposal the housing division intend to build up to 12 new one and two-bedroom council houses, which would be available to existing tenants in accordance with the allocation policy for new supply houses,” the report continues.
“The site also provides an opportunity for the delivery of five wheelchair adapted houses for ex-services personnel, in addition to the 12 proposed council houses.
“This would increase the number of wheelchair designed social rented houses beyond the current total of 11 across Angus, and help to ensure that people do not end up in unsuitable or temporary accommodation for lengthy periods.
“Camus House is ideal for this purpose, as it is centrally located for all town services with level access to the High Street and other amenities, with good availability of all types of public transport.
“This will provide a good environment for ex-services clients to make the transition from military routine to a civilian lifestyle and enable them to fully integrate into the community. Consequently the council has been in discussion with the charity Houses for Heroes Scotland, who are considered to be the most appropriate specialist housing organisation to deliver this objective.”
A design build agreement would be drawn up prior to the contract so that the Houses for Heroes will be transferred at an agreed cost on completion.
The proposal is to apply a £1 peppercorn rent for 100 years to the Houses for Heroes properties and the charity has applied to the Scottish Government for innovation fund support.
The director’s report adds: “There is currently an estimated gross expenditure allowance in the capital programme of £2,090,000 for land acquisition, demolition and construction of up to 17 new houses.
“If the Houses for Heroes proposal is approved, the total cost will be offset in part by an as yet undetermined capital receipt when the five houses are complete and then sold on to Houses for Heroes.”