Affordable homes scheme receives minister’s blessing

The Scottish Minister for Housing and Communities has taken time out to visit a creative programme to develop affordable homes from church-owned property.

Alex Neil MSP went to see the Duke Street United Reformed Church, which is part of a development of 24 affordable homes run by Port of Leith Housing Association in Edinburgh in conjunction with Scottish Churches Housing Action.

Housing association, Port of Leith, bought the site from the congregation a few years back, only to resell the church’s portion of the new home build once the scheme was competed. The new homes were opened on the site in April 2007.

Leslie Morrison, the Church Minister of Duke Street, told Christian Today: “The development is wonderful – not only does it meet our needs, it helps some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society.

“We have some greater use of our building with more of the community using it not only on a Sunday but throughout the week.”

The Scottish government has pledged to invest £1.5 billion in affordable homes over the next three years. This year, it gave £41 million to Edinburgh city council to support affordable housing projects in the city, including the Duke Street new home build development.

Alex Neil MSP complimented the project: “This is a first class example of how a local church group can improve their worshipping and community facilities, while at the time creating high quality low-cost housing.

“We look forward to continued working with Scottish Churches Housing Action to identify more opportunities in Scotland where we can work together, with the local council, to deliver more affordable housing.”
 

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