GRAMPIAN Housing Association’s Old School regeneration project at Abergeldie Road, Ballater has won the Building communities for the future category and was also commended in the Conservation and building adaptation category in the Aberdeenshire Architectural and Landscape Design Awards 2023.
Designed by Ian Rodger Architects and owned by Grampian Housing Association (GHA), the development comprises 24 properties for social rent – a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats and two and four-bedroom family homes.
The design team also included McCue & Porter (quantity surveyor), Ramsay & Chalmers (structural engineer), and Gordon Mitchell Contractors (builder).
Significantly, the development brought a building at risk back into use. The work combines retention of old buildings with new build through the use of modern materials. Real slates, traditional harling and lime mortar have all been used, while window openings and the style of timber windows in keeping with the age of the building have been retained.
In addition, modern extensions and annexe buildings were removed to return the school to its original design.
Ian Rodger said, “We are overjoyed to have been recognised in those two categories. Well done to Grampian Housing Association, to have been proud enough of the finished scheme to put it forward for the award.”
The judges commented: “The development is well thought out and provides a variety of properties within the former school buildings as well as the creation of new properties on the site. Through the positioning of the dwellings and the use of communal greenspaces, a welcoming and successful community has been created. Large buildings such as this are becoming obsolete, new uses need to be found for them to stop their deterioration and eventual loss. The Old School is a good example of how they can be reused and shows that it can be successfully achieved.”
Craig Stirrat, chief executive of Grampian Housing Association, added, “From the outset of the project there was a keen desire to provide well designed, high amenity and attractive housing so my thanks to Ian Rodger Architects for helping us to deliver on this. The development demonstrates how a considered layout, incorporating landscaping and green open spaces, can create balanced communities as well as deliver on housing need.
“In terms of wider regeneration benefits, the building was saved from decay which was important for local residents.”
The site of Grampian’s regeneration project in Ballater was identified in the Local Plan for affordable housing given the shortage in this area.
The building was disused, listed and situated within the Ballater Conservation Area. Through the introduction of flats and family homes, the site contributes to the wider community, including employment opportunities and protection of the local primary school.
The development attracted Scottish Government funding of £1,791,984 while Grampian contributed £2,338,907 through capital borrowing. Aberdeenshire Council Top Up Grant amounted to £198,000. The contract value was £3,464,710. The project also qualified for RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) funding of £282,000 over 20 years.
Grampian worked with Aberdeenshire Council to establish a Local Lettings Plan to ensure local people benefited from the homes. The ground floor accommodation is aimed at the ageing population in Ballater and young single people who could not otherwise afford to move out of their parents’ homes. There are also adapted properties with level access showers.
Ballater is Grampian’s first development to trial Switchee, a smart asset management tool which monitors the building’s health and helps to optimise energy use. Ground source heat pumps have been installed to provide heating and hot water to the properties, while also future-proofing the homes from a reliance on fossil fuels.
