SSEN has pledged to support the delivery of more than 1000 new homes across the north of Scotland to assist in alleviating Scotland's housing challenges in an industry first.
The energy giant is working with councils, registered social landlords and other housing organisations to deliver the new homes as part of its Pathway to 2030 programme — a £20 billion investment to upgrade the transmission network in the north of Scotland.
Workers’ accommodation will be required to deliver the proposed upgrade projects, and SSEN is aiming to host its workforce by delivering housing that will support local needs when the projects are completed.
The delivery of new housing in local authority areas in the north of Scotland includes around 400 homes in the Highlands and a similar number in Aberdeenshire, with other significant housing plans to be announced.
Further details of the local housing projects in different council areas will be made in the coming months.
It is understood that this approach has garnered significant interest from local authorities and could serve as a model for infrastructure developers across Scotland.
SSEN is to outline its plans at the Housing Challenge Summit taking place in Aviemore today (Tuesday), where it will launch its new housing strategy.
He added: "Our commitment to support the delivery of more than 1000 new homes in the north of Scotland reflects ongoing work led by SSEN Transmission with the support of our contractors and partners, focused on finding workforce accommodation solutions that will provide a legacy for communities where the lack of housing for local people is a key issue.
“This is a significant and innovative contribution to addressing the housing challenges in the north of Scotland, and it also demonstrates how we can work in partnership to develop imaginative proposals that will deliver new homes and act as a template for other developers.
“Discussions are ongoing with local authorities, developers and registered social landlords over the location and scale of potential projects, and we expect to make further announcements in the coming months that will demonstrate substantial benefits to local communities."
“We will work with SSEN Transmission and other partners to ensure that the right homes are delivered in the right place, to benefit local communities for generations to come," McLennan added.
“Good quality housing is essential to attract and retain people in our communities. We remain focussed on delivering 110,000 affordable homes across Scotland by 2032, with at least 70% for social rent and at least 10% in our rural and island communities supported by our Rural and Island Housing Action Plan.”
Carolyn Lochhead, director of external affairs at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said: “Our members are looking forward to working alongside SSEN Transmission to provide much-needed homes across the north of Scotland.
“The housing emergency has hit rural Scotland particularly hard and has exacerbated so many other existing challenges such as depopulation, labour shortages, and underinvestment in rural communities.
“This investment will be vital for communities across the north of Scotland and is a good example of collaborative working to increase the supply of housing.”
The Highland Council’s chair of housing and property committee, councillor Glynis Campbell Sinclair said: “We are working with partners and developers across the private and public sector to identify creative solutions to deliver new homes and we very much welcome innovative proposals such as this coming forward for consideration.
"SSEN Transmission has embraced the provision of legacy housing, which is a key part of our Social Value from Renewables Charter, and I look forward to many other companies coming forward with the same level of intent.”
