More than £380million is to be invested in affordable housing in the north and north-east between 2018 and 2021.
Housing minister Kevin Stewart announced the funding – which includes £53million for house-building in Aberdeen and £84.5million for Aberdeenshire – as part of a £1.75billion Scottish Government package to stimulate investment in affordable housing.
Aberdeen Central MSP Mr Stewart said the move was designed to help councils and house-builders plan investment and provide certainty on the amount of funding available until 2021.
He said: “We are ensuring Scotland has homes that are high-quality, efficient and affordable.
“Today, we are announcing to local authorities how much money they’ll have to invest in affordable housing until the end of this parliament. It means they can plan these new affordable homes now – with the certainty that the funding will increase year-on-year.
“This is also an important signal to the house-building sector in Scotland and demonstrates our commitment to the industry and the estimated 14,000 jobs our affordable housing supply programme supports each year.”
Sarah Boyack, head of public affairs for the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) welcomed the news, which comes as official figures showed a rise in completions and approvals for housing associations.
She said: “Today’s figures indicate some progress towards increasing Scotland’s supply of much needed affordable housing.
“However, this must be maintained if we are to solve Scotland’s housing crisis.
“The funding of £1.75billion gives our members the certainty that they can plan ahead and contribute towards meeting the challenging target of 50,000 affordable homes.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead MSP welcomed £24million for his council.
He said: “With a significant housing shortage and long waiting lists locally, this funding is a welcome boost.
“Committing funding until the end of this parliament will help ensure Scotland leads the way in building homes that are high-quality, efficient and affordable, and will strengthen our house-building sector and the estimated 14,000 jobs the affordable housing supply programme supports each year.
“Everyone in Moray, and indeed Scotland, deserves a warm, affordable home and with a huge number of affordable homes approved last year, we are making great progress towards that aim.”