Funding will help provide homes for rent and to buy at low-cost.

Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said the �31.5m would provide 560 homes for rent or bought at low-cost.

Executive agency Communities Scotland has provided the funding.

The money would go towards projects across the Highlands, including Caithness, Lochaber, Ross-shire, Sutherland and Inverness.

Mr Chisholm said hundreds of families should benefit from the new investment.

He added: "A lot of progress has been made. However, there is much more we can do, and now will do, as a result of this record executive investment.

Stock transfer

"But there is a golden opportunity later this year for the Highland Council tenants to add considerably to this."

Tenants are to vote on plans to transfer council housing stock to an agency and Mr Chisholm said by voting "yes" would lead to even higher investment and stable rents.

Communities Scotland area director for the Highlands and Islands, David Nicol, added: "The budget of �31.5m represents a significant increase in funding for Highland."

The projects include providing 41 new homes in Lochalsh and 51 in Skye.