GHA’s £20m transformation in Knightswood is taking shape
New design guides aim to ‘future proof’ Scottish housing stock for an ageing population.
GHA’s £20m transformation in Knightswood is taking shape, more than 50 new affordable homes are taking shape as part of a £20million regeneration project in Glasgow’s north-west.
The £7 million development by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) will see 54 ‘amenity’ flats available for social rent for older people at Lincoln Avenue in Knightswood.
Amenity housing provides residents with communal areas where they can socialise and has special features such as wet floor showers and more accessible electric sockets. The fully accessible apartments will also feature communal gardens.
The latest new homes – a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments aimed at older people – are being built by Cruden and are due to be finished in mid-2017. The Scottish Government has contributed £2.6 million of grant funding to the project.
It is the latest phase in plans to transform the popular neighbourhood which have seen two multi-storey blocks demolished and the remaining four improved in a £13 million improvement project.
Tenants living in the four existing blocks have benefited from kitchen upgrades, new storage heating, roof repairs and external cladding.
New controlled entry systems and CCTV were installed to improve safety and security, while new lifts will be installed in all blocks by March 2017.
Tenant Ellen Chapman, 63, lives in one of the refurbished blocks. She said: “I’ve lived in my flat for 20 years – it’s where I brought up my sons. The work that has been done over the years has made a world of difference.
“All of the blocks look fantastic inside and out. When friends and family visit they comment on how great the place looks – from the new foyer to the new lifts being installed. Once the new flats are finished, the whole area will have a new lease of life.”
GHA Chair, Bernadette Hewitt, said: “One of our top priorities at GHA and across Wheatley Group is to give people a bigger choice of affordable homes which suit their needs, while improving existing homes for our tenants.
“The improvements to the remaining Lincoln Avenue multi-storeys are bringing benefits for those living in them, while the new development will offer older people in the area the chance of getting amenity housing with a bit of extra support.”