New Arbroath council homes welcome first tenants

The 13 three and four-bedroom homes in the Muirton area occupy a site where lock-up garages once stood and provide much-needed high-quality accommodation for affordable rent, provided in partnership with construction partner CCG (Scotland).

Scottish Government provided additional grant funding for the project and the new properties will be managed by the council’s Arbroath Community Housing Team.

The company is set to start work 38 further homes for the local authority later this year.

Community engagement with tenants and homeowners helped to ensure that plans reflected local views. This saw an area of Bloomfield Park (Donkey Park) absorbed into the development and improvements made to the local play park.

The site also includes new play equipment and a footpath/cycle path with lighting that will improve active travel and safe routes to school. Additional car parking has been provided for residents and families visiting the park. A programme of tree-planting will take place in the park this autumn.

Councillor Mark Salmond, communities and finance convener, said: “We are focused on providing modern, energy-efficient, affordable homes within better environments, with better facilities and improved access routes and links.

"We want everyone to live in places that they are proud to call home within communities that are accessible, well-connected, better and healthier places to live.”

The new development provides much sought-after accommodation for families, couples and single occupants and are all highly energy-efficient, taking advantage of solar power to help minimise energy costs for tenants.

CCG Scotland successfully navigated several challenges that arose as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, including social distancing and materials/workforce availability.

CCG Director, John Baggley, said: "I give my thanks to Angus Council for choosing CCG to deliver Muirton Road, the first homes of their kind formed from our strategic housing partnership.

“We worked closely with the Council and our partners to optimise the design of the homes whilst our advanced construction methods will deliver long-term benefits to the end-user in the form of reduced heat loss resulting in lower energy bills. Furthermore, our involvement in the development has created a legacy of value for the local community with new employment, curriculum support for local schools and a financial donation to a locally based project amongst the work undertaken during the programme.

“CCG look forward to completing works on a further 38 homes for Angus Council in Arbroath later in the year.”