David McKay
Council housing tenants living in the path of a new link road to ease congestion at Aberdeen’s Haudagain roundabout will be offered pay-outs from the local authority.
Officials have estimated there are about 132 council properties that will be affected by the multimillion-pound upgrade that is due to commence after the city bypass is built in 2018.
So far, 86 households have been contacted as work begins to rehouse them to allow for the new route, which will connect North Anderson Drive with Auchmill Road.
A report to Aberdeen City Council’s housing and environment committee recommends members agree to providing the equivalent of “home loss” or “disturbance” payments to those people whose homes are required.
The compensation will be payable with “immediate effect” after they move, the report states.
The total cost is expected to be in the region of £500,000 over a period of three years.
Councillors will also be asked to agree that all those affected should be given priority and placed on the urgent list for new housing.
Properties currently listed as “void” across the city will be offered to the families, but officials have said that every effort will be made to rehouse people in the local area if they wish to remain there.
The Scottish Government, which will be building the new road, has agreed to cover the cost of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) for the project.
The report, from housing policy development officer Kevin Kelly, states: “It is important that the council rehouses the tenants in a timeous and orderly manner in line with the programme time-scales so as to minimise disruption to the tenants.
“It is also vital that the council provide vacant possession of its properties in the affected site when the Scottish Government compulsory purchases the land from the council. This will ensure that we maximise the compensation we receive for the properties so it can be reinvested in housing services and projects for the benefits of our tenants.”
The housing and environment committee will discuss the report at a meeting on Tuesday, August 26.