Highland housing emergency sparks pledge for ‘significant’ house building programme by Albyn Housing Society as it seeks to ease north of Scotland crisis
Plans to drive forward “significant new housing” in the Highlands will be unveiled early in 2025, a major housing society has vowed.
Albyn Housing Society made the pledge at the turn of the year as it signalled its intent to meet the “Highland Housing Challenge” set by councils and Holyrood amid an acute shortage of affordable homes in the region.
Indeed, the Scottish Parliament and local authorities have declared a housing emergency - with house prices keeping many people out of the market, and rents surging.
It is estimated that the Highlands will need as many as 24,000 new homes over the next ten years to keep up with future demand as well as satisfy current housing needs.
Demand is also expected to be fuelled the the new Cromarty Firth freeport, and major investment on the electrical grid in the coming years as more renewables come on stream.
The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport alone claims it could create up to 15,000 new jobs and generate around £3bn in inward investment.
While Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has plans to invest £20bn on the north’s transmission grid as part of efforts to support net zero transmission and long term energy security. This will also create a need for new housing, as the electrical work will require up to 5000 highly skilled workers in the Highlands and further afield by 2030.
But, currently, there is not enough housing provision for these expected workers.
And signalling Albyn’s intent to step up housebuilding in the region to try to meet this surge in demand, Lesley McInnes, chairperson of the Albyn Housing Society board, said: “As one of the largest housing providers in the Highlands it is only right that we play our part in combating the housing shortage.
“There are significant economic opportunities in the Highlands coming down the track and it would be remiss of us if these passed us by due to a lack of housing in the area.
“The board of Albyn Housing Society recently hosted representatives from The Highland Council and from the Scottish Government More Homes Division at our recent strategy day and their insights provided for meaningful discussion about increasing the delivery of housing in the area.
“In early 2025, we will bring forward proposals that will support the construction of significant new housing in the Highlands over the next ten years. Ultimately, this will deliver more homes for the people that need them, as well as increased prosperity and opportunities for the Highlands. As well as the long term positive economic impact, the construction of these homes will also result in more jobs for local people and investment in local communities.”
Albyn Housing Society is currently the main provider of affordable housing in the Highlands. Established in 1973, it now manages more than 3800 properties in 80 rural communities. It also has over 90 employees, with offices in Invergordon and Inverness.
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