Two Argyll building companies have just been awarded contracts worth £5.1million.
Argyll Community Housing Association (Acha) has awarded the contracts for roofing, roughcasting and external insulation.
M&K MacLeod of Lochgilphead will carry out the works for the association in Dunbeg, near Oban, and on the isle of Islay. Stewart McNee Limited of Dunoon will carry out similar contracts in Bute and Cowal.
The work will see essential roof, roughcast and energy efficiency improvements to around 300 association homes.
The contracts are scheduled to last for five months on Islay and eight months in Bute and Cowal and will go on site in the this month.
The work at Dunbeg work will start on Monday and run for 28 weeks. Work will be undertaken in properties in Camus Road, Etive Road, Hillside, Jane Road, Lochnell Road and Lorn Road.
Alastair MacGregor, Acha’s chief executive, said: “I am delighted on two fronts. Firstly that we are able to resource these extensive modernisations to the external fabric of so many of our tenants’ homes and, secondly, that two Argyll companies are taking this work forward. That can only be good for local jobs and livelihoods.”
Murdo MacLeod, managing director of M&K MacLeod, said: “MacLeod Construction is delighted to have been awarded contracts by Acha to render and re-roof homes in Dunbeg and Islay. The company is delighted to support Acha’s investment in Argyll particularly on our islands. In addition to the Islay and Dunbeg contracts we are building affordable houses in Tarbert, Oban, Connel and Bowmore for Acha. The housing association’s investment in Argyll will not only improve housing stock available to our population but will maintain construction jobs in mainland and island Argyll and Bute.”
The contracts issued this week are part of Acha’s ongoing investment programme of modernisation to the organisation’s 5,100 homes located throughout Argyll and Bute. The total investment programme for 2014/15 is £12.9million, which this work is part of.