SOUTH Lanarkshire Council has broken ground on a new council house development in Blantyre, to be built by Glasgow-based Cruden Building and Renewals.
Located on the site of the former St Blane’s Primary School, the development will comprise of 20 properties made up of two, three and four-bedroom semi-detached family homes and one and two-bedroom cottage flats.
The homes, designed by Smith Scott Mullen Architects, are due to be completed and handed over by February 2019.
Gordon Lee, partnering and procurement director for Cruden Building, commented, “We are pleased to begin another project with South Lanarkshire Council as work gets underway, delivering this important housing development at St Blane’s.
“All the homes will be eco-friendly, ensuring all residents benefit from warmer homes that have fewer carbon emissions and are more economical to run.”
He added, “As with all our developments, we will work closely with local companies and bring a number of benefits to this community. Throughout this project we will provide jobs to local people and create a number of work placements, as well as modern apprenticeship and training opportunities for young people.”
Councillor Josh Wilson, South Lanarkshire Council’s chair of housing and technical resources, carried out the traditional cutting of the first sod. He said, “This site will see the completion of the 300th new council home built since our programme started in 2015 with households across South Lanarkshire benefitting from all the advantages new-build property brings.
“As with all our developments, the new homes on this site will meet the latest standards in energy efficiency, saving tenants hundreds of pounds a year on fuel bills and helping to protect the environment.”
Daniel Lowe, executive director of housing and technical resources, added, “ Our Home+ programme continues to go from strength to strength and demonstrates South Lanarkshire Council’s commitment to meeting key priorities in our local housing strategy, which includes increasing the supply of affordable housing, tackling fuel poverty and promoting sustainable communities.
“In addition to St Blane’s, construction is ongoing at five sites to build 118 new homes in the Hamilton, East Kilbride and Clydeside areas.”
