The first large-scale affordable modular housing development in Scotland has been completed within budget and one month ahead of schedule.
The £9.8m project was delivered by Riverside Scotland and Connect Modular, part of The Wee House Group, and will provide 63 low energy homes in Dundonald, South Ayrshire.
The modular homes are 90% complete when they depart the factory with kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing, and electrics installed, which, according to Connect Modular, leads to a significantly shorter build programme and earlier occupancy.
In comparison to a traditional build project, fabrication under factory conditions typically improves quality, reduces waste, negates the impacts of adverse weather, and allows for overlap of site preparation and build phases.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by resident David; managing director of Riverside Scotland, Diana MacLean; and Jennifer Higgins, managing director of Connect Modular.
David said: “We live in the village, and having a live building site on our doorstep has been a dream for [son] Hector.”
He added: “These homes were much-needed in the village, and it’s lovely to see new faces and welcome our new neighbours to the community.”
Jennifer Higgins, managing director at Connect Modular, said: “We are thrilled to hand over this award-winning development ahead of schedule.
“Riverside Scotland’s willingness to embrace this evolution in construction on a large-scale project brings us a huge step closer to a housing stock that will achieve a net-zero Scotland by 2045.”
She added: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to welcome Hector and David to the site throughout the project.”
Homes for military veterans
Riverside Scotland, part of The Riverside Group, manages 2,300 homes across Ayrshire, with a programme to deliver 300 new homes over three years underway that is set to increase the size of its housing stock by 13%.
Riverside Scotland has made a commitment to providing homes for veterans at risk of homelessness at its two newest social housing developments by allocating more than 10% of new homes to support veteran households.
The Dundonald development is now home to 10 military veteran households – accounting for 16% of the affordable homes built in Dundonald.
Diana MacLean, managing director of Riverside Scotland, said: “This nationally significant affordable housing scheme has raised the profile of offsite construction in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
“While we are a smaller housing association we have big ambitions which we are able to achieve by being part of the wider Riverside Group.
“By providing high-quality, low energy homes at speed and scale we are helping to tackle climate change, prevent homelessness for our veteran community and help these residents to live in affordable, warm homes during the largest cost of living crisis our nation has faced for the past 40 years.
“We are delighted that Hector could help to cut the ribbon during the completion ceremony.
“He has become something of a site mascot, and it’s heartening to hear that local residents have embraced the development as an important project for Dundonald.”
The project was delivered with £4.65m of grant funding through the Scottish government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme.
Image: Diana MacLean from Riverside Scotland and Jennifer Higgins from Connect Modular at the official opening
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