UK Flagship Housing Project Receives Funding Boost

A new funding package of £205,000 is being pieced together to ensure that The Highland Housing Fair, the UK’s first housing exhibition, goes ahead in the summer of 2010. The Highland Council's Planning Environment and Development Committee is an active promoter and supporter of the event and has agreed to submit a bid to the Council’s Resources Committee for additional funding of £40,000. The Forestry Commission has already  confirmed support of £30,000.

The Housing Fair Board also hopes to attract funding  from a wide range of public agencies, including the Scottish Government,  Greener Scotland, Highlands and Island Enterprise, Event Scotland, SUST and the Scottish Arts Council.

The Fair will be the first of its kind in the United Kingdom and will be an innovative and permanent development of around 50 homes which will be at the cutting edge of modern design and sustainable building techniques.  It aims to showcase innovative modern low energy housing designs and to demonstrate sustainable development through advanced forms of site servings, scheme lay-out and building practice.

Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of the PED Committee, said: “Our commitment and enthusiasm for the Fair exhibition remains strong.  The Fair could be a vital catalyst to encourage confidence and economic growth in the Highlands.”

The new business plan is welcomed by Councillor Jean Urquhart, Chairman of Highland Housing Fair.  She said: “In rescheduling the Fair for 2010 we ran the risk of losing some of our earlier revenue guarantees but with the Forestry Commission endorsement we are confident now that our other partners will also be supportive.   Indeed the longer run-in time means that we can apply to a number of other sources for funding which will be to the benefit of this exciting event. The dramatic increase in energy prices has highlighted the very real need for this development and how timely it is.”