Doune Court, Strathdon

Doune Court is located in Bellabeg, alongside the village of Strathdon. The scheme has 12 Sheltered Housing flats, and the former warden accommodation is attached to the main block.

Overall average occupancy at the scheme over 10 years was 89.1%. This has tended to vary, but there is a general downward trend across the period. Low Demand has been an issue in letting properties in the past, leading to lost income due to vacancies.

Doune Court has a negative Net Present Value of around -£2 million. The main driver of this are the high costs of future investment required at the scheme, although lost income to vacancies is also a challenge.

Bellabeg/Strathdon offers a small post office and convenience store to tenants, but requires tenants to travel to access larger shops. There is a medical centre in Strathdon, although it is some distance from the scheme and may prove challenging for tenants with mobility issues. Public transport options are limited, which could prove challenging for tenants without access to a car.

The main driver for considering the scheme for closure is the high cost of maintaining the scheme in future, which will require substantial subsidy from other tenants.