SFHA awards inaugural Mid-Market Rent Development of the Year prize

Peter Kennedy, chair of Grampian Housing Association, presented with SFHA Mid-Market Rent Development of the Year 2018 award by Zhan McIntyre, policy lead at SFHA

The winner of the first SFHA Mid-Market Rent Development of the Year, sponsored by Citylets, was revealed at the SFHA Annual Conference on the 12 and 13 June 2018 in Glasgow.

Delegates were asked to vote for their favourite out of four developments shortlisted by colleagues at the SFHA Mid-Market Rent conference earlier this year.

Osprey Heights scooped the first prize

The four shortlisted developments included:

  • Castle Heather in Inverness by Albyn Housing Society
  • Osprey Heights in Inverurie by Grampian Housing Association
  • Annandale Street by Link Group
  • Leith Fort by Port of Leith Housing Association
  • The winner was Osprey Heights, a development of seven 3-bedroom houses with parking.

    A typical kitchen at Osprey Heights

    This development was targeted at key workers and people on moderate incomes, earning up to £40,000 per year. They are aimed at people with no priority for social housing but cannot afford to buy or rent in the private rented sector.

    Peter Kennedy, chair of Grampian Housing Association, accepted the prize at the end of SFHA Annual Conference on 13 June.

    A living room at Osprey Heights

    Commenting on the award, Zhan McIntyre policy lead at SFHA, said: “I would like to congratulate Grampian Housing Association on winning the first Mid-Market Rent Development of the Year.

    “In the first round we had 14 entries which showcased the high quality mid-market rent homes now available across Scotland.

    “Delegates at the SFHA Annual Conference were very impressed with the quality of the Mid-Market Rent homes.

    “Mid-Market Rent homes are no longer the niche housing product peculiar to Edinburgh and Aberdeen they were ten or even five years ago. With changes to the wider economy and shift in access to housing and affordability, mid-market homes have started to take their place as one of a range of good quality housing options offered by housing associations across Scotland.

    “Mid-Market Rent is an ideal solution for ‘generation rent’ as rather than generation profit for private landlords, rental payments are re-invested into services and communities.”

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