£7.9m to swell numbers of affordable homes

Published on Tuesday 17 March 2009 09:17

EAST Lothian has been awarded £7.9 million from the Scottish Government to fund affordable housing over the next year.

It is the second year of the 1.5 billion programme announced in 2008 to provide 21,500 new or improved affordable homes across Scotland by 2011.

The funding is for affordable homes for rent or low cost home ownership.

Announcing the new funding, Minister for Housing and Communities Alex Neil said: "These are hard times for businesses and families across Scotland and this government is working hard to meet this challenge, refocus activity and ensure Scotland gets through the economic downturn in the strongest possible position."

East Lothian Council has already set out a 110m affordable housing programme for the 2009-2014 period through its Strategic Housing Investment Plan.

Councillor Stuart Currie, the council's housing leader, said: "The 7.9m will provide a much needed boost to the provision of affordable homes in East Lothian, both for rent and low cost home ownership."

East Lothian Council has a housing stock of around 8100 properties with approximately 5500 people on its housing list.