CHRISTMAS has arrived early for tenants in Peebles after moving into their new homes just before the festive season.

Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) has welcomed tenants into six new cottage flats at Glensax Place.

The two-bed flats have been built to a high specification and are very energy efficient, with solar panels to generate electricity, helping tenants to keep energy costs down.

Keys were handed over at the beginning of December, and housing officer Debbie Morrison was keen to make sure that it was a special day, kitting out front doors with festive red ribbons.

New tenant Anastasiia Balabai said: “I can’t wait until we move here. We are very happy – it is such a big excitement.”

Robin Tatler, councillor for Tweeddale East, said: “The new development is a great addition to the local community, and the design and quality of the new homes is very impressive.”

SBHA’s director of development, Emma Garry, added: “We hope that the new residents of Glensax Place will be very happy in their new homes. We are thrilled to be delivering these new homes – the first that SBHA has built in Peebles.

“This has been a significant year for SBHA’s development programme, with 12 new family homes completed at Tweed Court in Kelso in the early autumn also.

“Both sites were impacted by the demise of the original contractor which has of course delayed matters and presented some challenges – so to end the year handing over these fabulous and much needed homes feels like a great milestone.

“We continue to secure land to build homes and we have secured some key planning approvals which have allowed us to conclude contracts to start work on two new sites early in the New Year, so it is going to be a busy 2024.

“We look forward to welcoming customers in more new build homes next year, there can be no question about the pressing need for new affordable housing here in the Borders.”