Aberdeenshire Council is asking for feedback on extending the time period and geographical range of Pressured Area Designation that restricts council house sales and the consultation is open until August 9.

Pressured Area Designation was introduced to help to protect the supply of affordable rented housing in areas where there were high housing needs and shortages of social rented housing.

It aims to ensure that there are enough affordable rented properties in high demand areas for people who need them.

In November 2008, Aberdeenshire Council was granted Pressured Area Designation for a number of settlements for a period of five years and this comes to an end on November 5.

Consultation will take place with tenants of Aberdeenshire Council and the wider community, to provide people with the opportunity to give feedback on any draft proposals.

A questionnaire is available online at www.ibp.eu.com/pressuredareadesignation

Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee Councillor Karen Clark said: “As part of Aberdeenshire Council’s commitment to provide affordable housing to those in need, certain settlements of Aberdeenshire were identified as having a shortage of council or housing association rented housing.

“The ability to protect social housing will allow the authority more freedom and I encourage people to look at the proposals and provide their views.”

Vice chair Councillor Alisan Norrie added: “This consultation is important as we want to progress the types of housing available for over 7,400 people on the waiting list in Aberdeenshire.

“Please take the opportunity to get involved.”