CAMPION Homes has been appointed to a deliver a £17.5 million specialist home development in Dundee.
The Fife-headquartered firm will deliver the 66-home build on behalf of Blackwood, in what will be the independent living specialist’s biggest development to date.
A mix of two-bed flats and four and five-bedroom homes will be delivered, all ‘packed’ with smart-tech and features to help people to live as independently as possible.
It comes as another Blackwood initiative takes shape in Dundee, following the launch of its peoplehood project, which will see £3 million invested into Charleston. It is one of three Scottish communities chosen to develop a model for independent living, helping people to live healthier and happier for longer.
Simon Fitzpatrick, care development and commercial director at Blackwood, said, “Dundee was the location of the very first Blackwood development, so it is fitting that in our 50th year, the city is where we are now building our largest development to date. For the people who eventually move into these much-needed homes, it will be totally transformational. For perspective, the number of homes is almost half of Dundee City Council’s total waiting list for adapted accommodation. This is massive for the city.
“Campion Homes has an excellent reputation for building quality homes and delivering value. We are excited to be working with them on such a worthwhile and important milestone for Dundee.”
Alan Chalmers, commercial director at Campion Homes, added, “Our team are pleased to be working with Blackwood on the Charleston project in Dundee and look forward to creating a strong partnership in providing these much-needed, affordable homes.”
All of the properties will be based on the award-winning Blackwood House model, which was developed in partnership with architects Lewis and Hickey. The homes come with ‘considered and sensitive’ design elements, including core living areas which offer barrier free movement.
Each home can also be readily adapted to include a host of other benefits such as lift access, remotely controlled automated functions, and digital care and housing system – all aimed at helping people to live as independently as possible.
The Blackwood House model was first unveiled at the Dundee’s Glamis Road in 2017 when it launched its flagship development of six of the homes. Since then, a further 24 have been created at Helenvale in the east end of Glasgow, earning ‘extensive praise’ as the benchmark in independent living with Blackwood now stepping up their programme to build a total of 400 new homes over the next 5-7 years.
Julie McDowell, board chair at Blackwood, said, “Working with Campion Homes will further our ambitions to develop a blueprint for independent living and influence how the sector will operate in the future. It’s pretty special to be going back to the city Blackwood first started working in to build our largest development to date – especially as we celebrate 50 years of providing innovative services.”
Work is expected to start in June and to last 18 months. When construction is completed, Blackwood said it is likely that allocation of the properties will be divided between people identified as priorities by Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership, Dundee City Council, and Blackwood.
