THE first tenants have arrived at a new 38-home affordable housing development on the site of the former Lairdsland Primary School in Kirkintilloch.
The properties comprise a mix of three and four-storey buildings which contain one and two-bedroomed flats. They will be used as council housing.
The project, which forms part of the Kirkintilloch Town Centre Masterplan, includes four wheelchair accessible flats and eight amenity flats on the ground floor.
East Dunbartonshire Council worked in partnership with Cruden Building and Coltart Earley architects to ensure the homes were designed and built to complement surrounding buildings. The development, which included the demolition of the old school, was complete within two years.
Site works included the creation of new parking spaces and soft and hard landscaping. Artefacts from the original sc hool have been incorporated into the new building including the school’s date stone, now displayed in a new landscaped courtyard, and original stonework, which has been used to create boundary walls, bin stores and bicycle sheds.
Twocast iron columns from the Lion Foundry are also being used as street lighting in the courtyard.
Councillor Paul Ferretti, convener of place, neighbourhood and corporate assets, said, “I am delighted to see the completion of this smart and sympathetic development in the heart of Kirkintilloch. This site forms just one part of the council’s affordable housing investment programme, which is helping to meet the needs of local people who are finding it increasingly difficult to get on the housing ladder.”
Colin Kennedy, construction director at Cruden Building, added, “In addition to creating spacious, energy efficient homes, the projects have also delivered community benefits including the employment of local people, including labourers and cleaners, site visits for young people, mentoring by Cruden staff, Q&A sessions with apprentices and work placements.”
Megan Cassidy, partner Mikey Hanlon and dog Lily have moved into one of the new wheelchair accessible flats. Megan said, “We are really happy with the flat. You can tell it has been specially designed and adapted for a wheelchair user, which is amazing. It is a lovely area and all our neighbours seem really nice. I think we will be here for a long time.”
Works have been carried out at nearby Holy Family and Lairdsland Schools as part of a community benefits programme. Projects included the construction of mud kitchens and the refurbishment of planters at local schools, the combined total of which was over £5,000.
Artefacts from the original Lairdsland building, including coat hooks and a section of banister, are now part of a display at the town’s Auld Kirk Museum. A mural from the original building, which dates from the 1930s and was hidden under new decor, and original wall tiles were removed and conserved by specialist conservators. They are also part of the museum collection.
