Ground has officially been broken on the first phase of the new Bilbohall affordable housing development in Elgin, marking the beginning of a major long term housing project for the area.

The first phase of the development, located at the end of Edgar Road, will deliver 28 affordable homes and is expected to be completed by autumn 2027.

The homes will include 16 one bedroom cottage flats alongside 12 two bedroom accessible apartments featuring balconies and lift access.

The project forms part of the wider Bilbohall Masterplan, which was identified within the Moray Local Development Plan 2020 as a key area for the sustainable expansion of Elgin.

The homes are being delivered by Ogilvie Construction on behalf of Moray Council with support from the Scottish Government.

Alongside the housing itself, the first phase will also provide essential infrastructure to support future stages of the wider development.

That includes new roads, footpaths, drainage works and upgrades to the local electrical supply network.

Once fully completed, the wider Bilbohall site is expected to provide a total of 215 homes delivered across multiple phases.

Future stages of the development are also expected to include supported housing proposals for people with learning disabilities.

Councillor Amber Dunbar, Chair of Moray Council’s Housing and Community Safety Committee, said:

“Breaking ground at Bilbohall marks a significant milestone in meeting affordable housing needs in Elgin.

“The new homes will provide high quality, accessible accommodation for local people while also paving the way for future development across the wider site.”

David Mason, Operations Director for Tayside and North of Scotland at Ogilvie Construction, said:

“We are proud to be working with Moray Council to deliver high quality affordable homes at Bilbohall.

“Our project team will be working closely with the Council throughout the build programme to ensure successful completion next year.”

The development comes as demand for affordable housing continues to grow across Moray and the wider north of Scotland, with councils facing increasing pressure to provide accessible homes for local communities.

For Elgin, the Bilbohall project represents one of the area’s most significant planned housing expansions in recent years, with future phases expected to reshape the wider site over the coming decade.