The Communities Minister, Stewart Maxwell, has today unveiled moves to address affordable housing shortages in Aberdeenshire.

The Scottish Government has agreed to Aberdeenshire Council's request to suspend Right to Buy to tackle a lack of affordable housing in the area.

As a result, the local authority will be able to keep homes for rent that will be available to people on low incomes. Right to Buy will be temporarily suspended in 88 letting areas, which have been designated as 'pressured areas'.

Maxwell stated: "One of this Government's highest priorities is taking action on housing. That is why we have agreed to Aberdeenshire Council's request to suspend Right to Buy to ease the substantial pressures facing affordable housing in these 88 areas. 

"We are also committed to introducing legislation to end the right to buy for all new build social housing. Meanwhile our recent announcement of a £25 million support package for local authorities will help to kick start a new generation of council house building in Scotland.

"Aberdeenshire is the tenth local authority to have successfully applied to use the pressured area mechanism and I would ask other councils to consider whether it could be used as a suitable tool for them."

The chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Social Work and Housing Committee, Gurudeo Saluja, said he was "delighted" the Scottish Government had recognised the affordable housing pressures Aberdeenshire faces.

"Our housing stock has been greatly reduced though the Right to Buy, but at the very least these measures will assist us to retain high quality rented homes in the areas with the highest demand."

It is predicted the move will affect 5,763 tenancies – up to 56 per cent of social housing stock.