RIVERSIDE Scotland has handed over the second phase of its modular housing development at Dundonald with a further nine of the 63 homes allocated to waiting list applicants.
The £9.8 million project, with support from the Scottish Government, is being delivered by Riverside Scotland and Connect Modular Ltd, part of The Wee House Group and will provide affordable housing in the South Ayrshire village. The new development incorporates a blend of house types, including one-bedroom flats, three-bedroom houses and two-bedroom amenity bungalows.
Residents Nathan and Lauren Cairns have been allocated a three-bedroom home within the development. Nathan said, “We were in a small two-bedroom flat with our son and daughter and after lockdown and home-schooling this couldn’t have come at a better time. The kids are so excited to have their own bedrooms, and just having our own outdoor space will make such a difference to our lives.”
Last year Nathan and Lauren were selected to accompany Heather Anderson, head of service delivery at Riverside Scotland, and Jacqueline Gillies-Craig, housing options team leader, for a tour of Connect Modular’s Ayrshire factory to see first-hand the modular homes being designed and fabricated before being transported to the estate.
The houses are already 90% complete when they depart the factory with kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing and electrics pre-installed, facilitating a shorter build programme and earlier occupancy.
Heather Anderson said, “We visited the Cumnock factory with Nathan and Lauren last year as we were really keen to track the progress and environmental benefits of the build with it being our first modular development and thought it would be good to give one of our prospective tenants the opportunity to see how the modules are made. And here we are six months on handing over the keys!
“It is such an efficient process, with up to 67% less energy required to produce a modular building and construction waste is up to 85% less that on traditional sites. The spec of the completed properties is just fantastic. We’ve had great feedback from our residents who moved in before Christmas. We wish the Cairns family and the other residents moving in all the best in their new homes.”
Jennifer Higgins, MD at Connect Modular, said, “We are pleased to reach completion on this next phase of the development. Hand over day, for me, is a satisfying milestone in the process as I get to see the outcome of our team’s hard work alongside the happy faces of residents moving into their new home. This is always a lovely moment and it really brings the project to life.
“It is especially nice to see Nathan and Lauren moving in today, having previously met the couple when we hosted their factory visit last summer. We look forward to completing the remainder of the development in the coming weeks and months and are delighted with the progress to-date.”
