Business Plan Year 4
Read our Updated Business Plan.
Building on the success of the last 3 years of enacting Albyn’s 2022-2027 Business Plan, this Year 4 update outlines how Albyn will continue to respond to the growing housing needs across the Highlands, while strengthening the organisation for the future. It reflects the real challenges facing our communities — from the acute shortage of affordable homes to the pressures many tenants face in sustaining their tenancy — and outlines the practical steps we’re taking to address them. In doing so, we are committed to responding to the Highland Housing Challenge.
With the Green Freeport now underway and tens of thousands of jobs anticipated across the region, the need for quality, affordable homes has never been more urgent. We’ve listened, reflected, and responded — increasing our development ambitions to 600 new homes, with a renewed focus on mixed tenure delivery, energy efficiency, and partnerships that unlock real value for the people we serve. Our aim is not only to build more, but to ensure new and existing homes are affordable, energy efficient, and built to meet long-term needs.
Alongside this, we’re focused on helping people to stay in their homes. Our approach to tenancy sustainment includes providing practical energy advice, supporting tenants at risk of homelessness, and introducing a new pilot to help people furnish their homes when starting a tenancy. We’re working to remove the barriers that can make new tenancies feel uncertain or unsupported. These are straightforward, targeted measures that can make a real difference to the stability and wellbeing of our tenants.
Our people strategy this year is centred on recruitment, retention, and development. We are addressing sector-wide challenges through clear actions, improving our induction process, supporting career progression, and continuing to engage staff through regular engagement sessions. We are also investing in a new HR system to better support our workforce.
Improving the way we work is another key focus, and this is underpinned by a commitment to innovation and digital transformation. Our IT infrastructure is being upgraded to support more modern and efficient services, including the development of customer and contractor portals. Strengthening our systems and digital tools will support better decision-making and improve the overall experience for both staff and customers.
Partnerships remain a vital part of our work. We continue to collaborate with public, private, and academic partners on a range of projects — including our work on FitHomes and sensor technology to support independent living and tackle damp and mould. These partnerships help us collaborate on new ideas, coming together with others who care deeply about the Highlands and the people who live here.
The 2025/26 Business Plan is a clear and realistic reflection of where we are and where we’re heading. It’s designed to support our tenants, our staff, and our wider communities — with a focus on delivery, value for money, and continuous improvement in everything we do.
We’re grateful for the continued commitment of our staff, tenants, and partners as we deliver on these priorities together.