Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions, Link Group has continued to work with construction partners to provide nearly 300 affordable homes for people across Scotland.
In addition to providing over 8,000 homes and services to people and families across Scotland, the affordable housing provider has been able to deliver 293 new homes to communities across Scotland within a seven-month period since reopening its sites in June 2020, following the initial lockdown.
Link’s commercial director, Colin Culross, said: “It is fantastic to be in a position to keep delivering affordable homes, especially during a period of uncertainty for many people and families across Scotland.
“COVID-19 has created its challenges, but it has not stopped our work in delivering high-quality homes to the people who need it most.
“Since June 2020, Link has delivered 293 homes and is currently building 1,754 more. It is extremely rewarding to see this volume of new homes develop from planning, through to construction, and ultimately to being handed over to tenants.
“These new homes provide a range of tenure choices, including social rent, mid-market rent, and shared equity homes for sale.
“As part of our commitment to increasing accessibility in new homes, over 10% are built to amenity and wheelchair accessible standards; and to improve the housing choices for older people, 25% are retirement living properties.”
Recent handovers include 106 homes at Lawknowe Court, East Kilbride; 30 homes at Market Square, Wishaw; 56 homes at Butterbiggins Road, Glasgow; 44 homes at Glenforth Court, South Queensferry; and 10 homes at Calico Crescent, Newton Mearns.
To deliver the new homes, Link worked with the Scottish government, local authorities across Scotland, and framework developers and consultants.
Ongoing regeneration
Link has a major stake in town centre regeneration and is working with Renfrewshire Council to see its vision for the regeneration of Paisley town centre realised around the Abbey Quarter area.
This site, located in the Paisley Town Centre Conservation area, became vacant in 2002 following the closure of the Arnotts Department store, remaining undeveloped for several years.
Link has now completed a third phase, which delivered 26 homes for social rent, and is advancing the design of a final phase of the master planned site.
The tenure and mix of the dwellings were agreed with Renfrewshire Council and the design and specification is in keeping with Link’s Design Guide, Technical Brief, and the high-quality architecture which already exists in Paisley’s many beautiful, listed buildings.
The total project cost came in at £4.7m and was aided by grant funding from the Scottish government and Renfrewshire Council (£2.47m).
Link’s design brief focused on the need to deliver the regenerative benefits of providing an active street frontage, while ensuring the privacy of the tenants.
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In addition, the design was required to be sensitive to the local context, with the site being within the Paisley Town Centre Conservation Area. DO Architecture created a double frontage façade, establishing a civic street frontage behind which tenants benefit from private balconies.
The development was built by Cruden Building & Renewals Ltd and designed by DO Architecture, along with Clyde Design Partnerships (Structural Engineer), administered by Martin Aitken Associates (Quantity Surveyor) and supported by Armour Construction Consultants (CDM Advisor Services).
Delivered across four phases, Link says the Abbey Quarter is enhancing Paisley’s town centre and providing a stimulus for economic growth by delivering a community of modern, affordable homes across tenures.
The fourth and final phase of the regeneration has been designed by Hypostyle Architects and has recently been awarded planning approval.
Link says it hopes to commence this phase of 73 affordable, mixed-tenure units in spring 2021.
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