The Scottish Government has teamed up with a housing association to build nine affordable homes in Inverness.
The £1million scheme at Balvonie Braes will provide people with rented accommodation at mid-market rates for a minimum of five years.
Finance Secretary John Swinney, who will make the announcement today at a meeting of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands in Inverness, said it would also provide a boost to the local construction sector and wider economy.
The project is being delivered by Albyn Housing Society through the government’s innovative National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative, which has delivered more than 175 homes in the Highlands.
Almost 100 of these homes have already been build and the government estimates the NHT scheme has unlocked around £24million in housing development and supported around 225 jobs.
Mr Swinney said the government was investing nearly £30million in affordable housing in the Highlands in 2015-16.
“Not only is this investment helping support jobs, but it is also providing people and families with access to good quality, affordable homes where they can be safe and warm,” he added.
Douglas Russell, chairman of Albyn Housing Society, said: “There is huge demand for housing in Inverness at all tiers of the market, and by developing new and innovative schemes such as the NHT initiative, we can assist more people to secure quality affordable accommodation and make the next steps towards home ownership.”
Thomas Prag, chairman Highland Council’s planning, development and infrastructure committee, said the NHT initiative had helped meet demand for new housing.
“It is a real help for those looking to rent decent, affordable accommodation and complements the rest of the work we are doing to increase the housing stock in Inverness and other areas of the Highlands,” he added.