Cash will help buy land for cheap homes

MIDLOTHIAN is to share in a £5 million allocation of government cash for housing associations to buy land for new homes.

Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell announced the funding as part of the first wave of money to be brought forward after the Scottish Government announced up to £100m of spending was being accelerated for the delivery of new "affordable homes".

Midlothian is one of five areas to benefit from £5m allocated for land purchases by housing associations. Another £4m is going to six housing projects in other parts of Scotland.

The cash is earmarked for the purchase of land in Bonnyrigg for up to 30 units, expected to be mostly two-bedroom flats, some for rent and some for low-cost home ownership, to be developed by Dunedin Canmore Housing Association.

Announcing the funding, Mr Maxwell said: "This Scottish Government recognises the serious challenges confronting Scotland's housebuilders.

"This has become a major issue, with serious implications for the industry's present and future capacity, and our ambition to increase long-term housing supply in Scotland."