26 low cost home ownership houses have recently been sold by MacKintosh Highland and Strathnairn Ltd (private building companies) at Woodside of Culloden in Inverness. The schemes were grant aided by Communities Scotland under the Grant for Owner Occupation (GRO grant) mechanism and have been delivered through the Council’s affordable housing policy.
The houses were targeted at first time buyers who were Council or housing association tenants, and those on their waiting lists. MacKintosh Highland sold 6 three bedroom houses at the price of £87,500 and 6 two bedroom houses at £82,000. Strathnairn Ltd sold 14 two bedroom houses for £82,000 each. There was a huge response to the adverts inviting interest from those eligible to apply and these schemes have given people an opportunity to own their own homes in Inverness at a reasonable price, with many of the purchasers moving in during March.
“It’s great to have been given this opportunity to buy affordable housing”
Staff Nurse Kelly Dawson applied to buy one of the two bedroom houses built by Strathnairn Ltd at Woodside of Culloden and she will soon be moving in to her new home.
Kelly was living in NHS accommodation at Raigmore Hospital but this was only available temporarily and she urgently needed to find alternative housing. Kelly was on the Council’s waiting list for rented housing and along with many other first time buyers, Kelly found that she could not afford to buy on the open market. The affordable housing at Woodside became available at just the right time.
“We can’t wait to move into our new house”
Marc Gardiner had been a Council tenant for over three years when he applied to buy one of the three bedroom houses built by MacKintosh Highland at Woodside of Culloden.
He will soon move in with his wife Lorraine and their two children. Having lived in the area for over eight years, the new house is conveniently located for his daughter’s school and his son’s nursery. The family have longed to become homeowners and were thrilled to learn that Marc’s application to buy the GRO grant house had been successful.