Moray Council pauses its home constructing plans
Issues have been raised over Moray Council’s skill to construct the variety of native authority homes it has pledged.
In February final 12 months it was agreed that fifty council properties must be constructed yearly.
However present financial situations together with excessive rates of interest and inflation, coupled with labour shortages, are impacting progress.
As a part of a housing price range overview the native authority has now paused its efforts to seek out new websites for council properties.
Nevertheless, Edward Thomas, the council’s chief housing officer, is eager for present constructing targets to be maintained, given the advantages further hire offers to the native authority
The problems have been mentioned at a gathering of the housing committee yesterday.
Councillor Donald Gatt (Keith and Cullen, Conservative) requested if the native authority might meet building targets.
He mentioned: “Are we saying we’re not going to have the ability to construct 50 homes a 12 months beneath the present financial local weather?
“I imagine we’ve got constructing inflation someplace over 20%.”
Mr Thomas instructed the assembly he needed to see ranges maintained.
He mentioned: “The place developments are considerably progressing – for instance Bilbohall has gone to a selected level of maturity – we’re persevering with to work on these.
“However any future developments, we’re taking a pause to allow us to refresh the marketing strategy.”
That plan will go to full council in March for consideration as a part of the general price range setting course of.
Mr Thomas added: “At that stage we’ll point out the extent to which future constructing can and will proceed at current volumes.”
Final 12 months the native authority withdrew plans to construct on the former Spynie Hospital web site in Elgin due to rising prices.
There have been delays on the Bilbohall growth in Elgin and Speyview in Aberlour.
There is also delays on the Banff Highway growth in Keith due to rising borrowing prices.
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