Members approve a £789,000 investment in Nairnshire council housing

Members at today’s Nairnshire Area Committee agreed a proposed £789,000 investment in council housing for 2021-22.

The one-year Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme for Nairnshire 2021-22 is part of the Highland wide HRA Capital Plan for 2021-22 which will see over £15m invested in improving the housing stock across Highland.

A specific priority of the programme is heating replacements and energy efficient works in line with the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH).

In addition, the programme includes an allowance for kitchen replacements, bathrooms replacements, structural work to roofs, chimneys and the external fabric of properties, allowance for environmental works and continued funding of equipment and adaptations to assist tenants requiring extra support.

The capital programme resources include a mainstream investment of £716,000 and £73,000 of aids and adaptations (totalling £789,000).

Chairman of the Nairnshire Committee, Cllr Tom Heggie said: “A key feature of developing the programme for 2021-22 has been identifying individual area priorities through discussion with Members, local maintenance teams and tenants.

“Priorities have been identified for the Nairnshire area at a local level, with the projects defined within the programme aimed at meeting the locally identified priorities.

“The proposed Nairnshire HRA Capital Programme for 2021-2022 also reflects the strategic commitment towards increased spend on heating/energy efficiency measures to assist with improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock.”

Today’s report also highlighted that the current year HRA Capital Programme for Nairnshire has inevitably been delayed due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Projects which have been delayed will get under way as soon as possible, although it is likely there will be slippage into 2021-22. This may cause delays in delivering the 2021-22 programme.

Members were also advised that all previously approved projects for Nairnshire will be progressed.