New council houses at Alain Baxter Court, Aviemore
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Twenty new council homes in Aviemore are the latest to be completed by The Highland Council as part of the Administration’s target to build 888 new homes by 2017, supported by the Scottish Government.
Sitting in the Cairngorms National Park, the twenty homes for rent were built on the site of the former community centre. Spread over three floors, the flats are one of the tallest buildings in Aviemore and have been named after local skier, Alain Baxter.
Last week new tenant, Erin Stuart, was welcomed by Alain Baxter and Local Councillors Dave Fallows, Gregor Rimell and Bill Lobban.
Speaking ahead of the event, Chair of the Council’s Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Thomas Prag said: “I am delighted to see this site redeveloped to provide much needed new housing for Aviemore. It is not easy to find good quality affordable housing and I am pleased that these new homes are built to such high energy efficient standards and by local contractors. The Administration has set an ambitious but achievable target to build just under 900 new affordable homes by 2017 and these new flats are a welcome addition to this target.”
Alain Baxter said: “I feel very proud having my name on a street sign in the village I grew up in and have always said Aviemore and the Spey valley played a huge part in helping me succeed in my career. Racing and training in Austria over the years I've seen the Austrians doing the same with their world champions and Olympians, it's overwhelming, thank you.”
New tenant Erin said: “I’m originally from Nethybridge and after a few years away, I’m delighted to be back. I now have a flat which is modern, bright and lovely big rooms which I absolutely love.”
Being off-gas, each of the new homes benefits from electric heating, solar panels and has been built to energy efficient building standards.
The homes were built by Allan Munro Construction and the architect was Keppie Design. The cost for the twenty flats was £2.280m with £600,000 in grant monies from the Scottish Government.