News

THE ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES ACHIEVEMENT

The 20th of November 2007 saw a major milestone reached by the Association. Kelly Lander and James MacPherson of Sutherland Avenue were our 600th tenants.

Work on the six property development had began during October 2006 and had been completed in the Summer of 2007, tenants had moved in during September 2007. The development costs of £840,000 had been jointly funded by the Association and Communities Scotland.

Blair Allan, Director of the Association commented "Everyone at the Association is enormously proud that we have achieved this milestone. Yet, despite this achievement it would be fair to say that the housing needs of Lochaber are just as pressing as they were almost 20 years ago when the Association was formed. So we are all still working flat out to develop even more affordable housing opportunities for the people of Lochaber now and in to the future."

Pictured are LHA Housing Officers Irene Christie and David MacLaren with the 600th tenants Kelly Lander and James MacPherson and their children David aged 5 and John aged 2.

Official Opening of Lochaber Housing Association’s newest development

A FORMER Lochaber Councillor’s dedication to her local community has been recognised in the naming of Lochaber Housing Association’s latest 12-home development.

Olwyn Courtyard, on the site of the former nursery at Caol, has been named in honour of Olwyn Macdonald, who served as councillor for the Caol community for more than 17 years, and as convener of Lochaber area committee for eight, prior to standing down in May 2007.

Mrs Macdonald (75), who performed the official opening ceremony at Olwyn Courtyard on Wednesday 31st October 2007, attended by residents and LHA officials, commended Lochaber Housing Association’s commitment towards providing affordable housing in Caol - the largest village in Scotland – and elsewhere, particularly in more rural areas of Lochaber.

The £1.3 million development – completed by local contractor R.E. Campbell (Joinery) Ltd. – is situated off Moss Road and Kilmallie Road on the site of the former Caol nursery, which lay empty from 2003 until being purchased by LHA in 2005. The development features three 3-bedroom houses, five 2-bedroom houses and four 2-bedroom flats, and has been jointly funded by Lochaber Housing Association and Communities Scotland.

Officially opening the new development, Mrs Macdonald said she was "thrilled and honoured" that Olwyn Courtyard - which represents the largest development of non-private housing in the Caol area for almost two decades – had been named after her.

"I have to thank the local community council for that," she said. "I’m over the moon that the new development has been called after me and I’m especially happy at the fact that I’m still here to see it!". Mrs MacDonald, who recently had to be airlifted home after suffering a bout of illness while holidaying abroad, added: "I was so delighted when Dubh Macdonald Place was named after my late husband Iain but sadly, he wasn’t here to see it for himself. I count myself very lucky, and very grateful, to be honoured in this way - and to be able to enjoy it!"

Last year LHA spent almost £5 million on housing development in the Lochaber area, ranging from new build rental/shared ownership properties to upgraded "off the shelf" properties. Work on an additional 30 properties throughout the Lochaber area is on-going, with several new developments in the pipeline.

Lochaber Housing Association 19th AGM

THE ASSOCIATION REVEALS RECORD £5.4 MILLION HOUSING SPEND AT OUR 19TH AGM.

The Association projects over the past year totalled £5.4million in what the organisation calls "an exceptional year in terms of our development work"

But despite the successes of the past year, the Association remains aware that housing pressures in Lochaber mean demand continues to greatly exceed supply. Concerns have been voiced over non-financial constraints getting in the way of efforts to meet growing demand for houses in the region.

The Association’s annual general meeting on Monday heard that 59 new or renovated homes were completed in various locations throughout Lochaber, including Arisaig, Morar, Caol and Fort William.

Total expenditure by the end of the current year is expected to reach £6.4 million as on-going projects are completed in Mallaig, Kinlochleven, Caol and Fort William.

Highlights over the past year included the official opening of the former Malt Barn at the old Glenlochy Distillery, which saw the provision of 16 new homes. At Inverlochy, 33 homes at Dubh Macdonald Road were completed with a further 4 at Fassifern Road.

Three "off the shelf" properties were also acquired and will be upgraded prior to letting – two in Fort William and one in Lochaline.

Lochaber Housing Association’s (LHA) annual report for 2006/2007 – launched at the AGM – reveals that further projects in the pipeline include developments at Inchree, Kinlochleven, Morar and Strontian.

We will be providing more than 100 affordable housing opportunities over the next few years.

Speaking at our AGM on Monday 10th of September, Chairperson, Alison Gainsford said it had been “an important year” for the Association. Significant decisions were taken regarding future policy and strategy development there was refinancing of the loan portfolio and a charity subsidiary was set up to manage and develop an expanded care and repair service.

"The principle constraint to development is not the limitations of the public purse", Mrs Gainsford revealed. “We are attracting more funding from our housing and regeneration partners in government, Communities Scotland, than ever before.” "Rather, it is issues such as land supply, infrastructure availability and cost, and ground conditions that impede our ability to meet demand at the level that would make a really noticeable difference. However, it is this quest to make a real difference that drives the work of the Association"

Thanking LHA’s partners for their continued support, she added: "We are driven by a sincere belief in the value of partnership and continue to be confident that we can work with Communities Scotland, Highland Council, HIE Lochaber, the Highland Housing Alliance and others to address existing and emerging patterns of housing needs."

Our guest speaker at the AGM was Lochaber Provost Allan Henderson who commended the strength of the Association, adding that he had great confidence in the Association’s ability to address the housing problems throughout the area.

Following the formal business, a gift presentation was made to the LHA treasurer Nairn McArthur to mark his retirement from the Management Committee which he has served since 1995.