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MacDonald breaks ground at new housing partnership project
29/01/1999
The first sod of turf at a project to demolish council houses and build new homes under the Government's New Housing Partnership initiative was cut by Scottish Housing Minister Calum MacDonald today.
The £23.5 million development in Castlemilk will see the construction of 126 houses for rent and a further 278 for sale.
Opening the site at Cressland Mr MacDonald said:
"This development represents a significant step forward in the New Housing Partnership initiative, which aims to encourage community ownership and tackle social exclusion and neglect.
"Under the initiative, nearly £300 million has been made available by the Government over the next three years to promote a new approach to housing in Scotland.
"I am delighted to open this project in Castlemilk which will create 126 houses for rent, followed by a further 278 houses for sale and I will be making further announcements about similar projects in the near future."
BACKGROUND
1 The development is being built by Home in Housing Association Ltd in partnership with Crudens, Glasgow City Council and the local community. The total cost of the scheme will be around £23.5 million of which some £16.14 million will be from private sector resources. The overall New Housing Partnership Subsidy at £4.94 million provides a leverage ratio of more than 5 : 1 which compares very well with other similar mixed tenure projects in Scotland.
2 Weekly rents in the Cressland development will be in line with those charged by the Council for its own new build schemes and from 1999-2000 will range from £44 per week for a one bedroom flat to £62 per week for a four bedroom end terrace house. The new rented units will be offered to the residents of the 362 council houses targeted for demolition with the Council rehousing the remainder in the Castlemilk area.
3 Under the New Housing Partnership initiative, nearly £300 million of additional resources has been made available by the Government over the next three years to promote a new approach to affordable housing in Scotland which involves genuine partnership between councils, tenants, Scottish Homes, alternative landlords such as housing associations and the private sector. Great importance is attached to the promotion of community empowerment which, in the case of tenants, gives them a say in how their homes are managed and maintained.
News Release: 0166/99
29 January 1999