en.Wedoany.com Reported - A £2.7 million affordable housing development has been completed in the Highland town of Dornoch, with 12 new homes officially handed over, marking the final phase of a partnership project between Albyn Housing Society and Springfield Partnerships. The two organisations have a long-standing collaboration, having delivered housing together for over a decade.

The development includes one-bedroom apartments and two, three, and four-bedroom houses, including bungalows. Eight of the homes are for social rent, and four are for mid-market rent, forming part of a wider housing scheme delivered by Springfield. The homes are uniformly equipped with air source heat pumps for heating and hot water, and energy experts from Changeworks provided one-to-one guidance to new tenants on using the system efficiently. In terms of project funding, the Scottish Government contributed £1.68 million, with the remainder financed by Albyn through private funding.

Maureen Knight, Chief Executive of Albyn Housing Society, stated that these homes respond to local housing needs and provide much-needed affordable rents in one of the country's most rural areas. Tenants have already moved in and praised the high-quality finish. This initiative is part of Albyn's broader target to build 600 new affordable homes by 2030, with new projects currently underway in locations such as Ullapool, Conon Bridge, and Inverness.

David Green, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, noted that Scotland is facing a housing crisis, with challenges even more acute in rural areas like the Highlands, and that the delivery of more high-quality, affordable homes in Dornoch is encouraging. Housing Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville emphasised that strong partnerships are key to achieving the target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with at least 10% located in rural communities. In the 2026-27 financial year, the Scottish Government has provided over £50 million to the Highlands as part of a record £926 million investment in affordable housing. Tom Leggeat, Managing Director of Springfield Partnerships, stated that more housing is needed in the north of Scotland to support investment and retain the workforce, and that partnerships like this play a vital role in achieving that goal.