Army of workers get house in order for expo event opening

IT'S a common problem. Visitors are expected and it's a mad dash to get the house ready in time.

But in the case of Scotland's Housing Expo there are 52 houses to prepare before the first of 30,000 people who will begin to arrive tomorrow.

Which is why an army of 400 workers are involved in a race against time to put the finishing touches to the event at Balvonie on the outskirts of Inverness.

The expo, the first event of its kind in Scotland, will run throughout August and is billed as the "single most important architecture and design event to take place in Scotland over the past decade".

It aims to encourage better design, including improved energy use and energy conservation, to help cut households' carbon footprint.

Originally the Highland Housing Fair, the event was postponed last year due to the recession and has been criticised by local residents and politicians who said they were not properly consulted about the construction of a permanent new village.

Supporters say the 20 affordable and 32 private houses, which are available to rent or buy, will put Inverness at the forefront of building innovation and bring in about 550,000 to the economy.

Fiona Hampton, the event's project manager, said one house, a three-bedroom timber frame building, has already been sold and there have been a large number of inquiries for the others, which include detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, as well as flats.

She said: "All the plots will be accessible to the public on Sunday. We are working around the clock to make sure we make it."

The Scottish Government is giving 2 million towards the event. First Minister Alex Salmond, who visited the site this week, said: "The ideas and innovation on show can inspire developers, planners and architects across the country."

Highland Council is underwriting the event to the tune of 100,000 and another 60,000 from the Inverness Common Good Fund will allow children to attend for free.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is also providing 70,000 and it is also backed by Events Scotland (25,000) and Forestry Commission Scotland (30,000).

Inverness councillor Roddy Balfour said the forecast of 30,000 visitors is a "widely exaggerated prediction" and he also is critical of the funding.

"My problem was that we used Common Good money to support it which was completely outrageous. You cannot use Common Good money to for what is a speculative commercial venture.

"Overall they are getting 160,000 from the council which is a lot of money. It's not appropriate when the construction industry is going through a very negative phase, a lot of jobs are being lost, firms are going to the wall and houses are not selling anyway.

"We will almost certainly be left with a ghost town there when they move out."