WEST of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) was joined by the Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart MSP and Councillor George Redmond, executive member for Jobs, Business and Investment at Glasgow City Council, at the launch of their latest housing development which celebrated a landmark £50 million investment in Camlachie/Barrowfield in East Glasgow.
The housing association, one of Scotland’s oldest social landlords, has been delivering a comprehensive regeneration programme in the area since 1996 creating 500 high-quality, affordable homes.
WSHA have invested an additional £25 million in developing 200 homes within the neighbouring communities of the Gallowgate and the Games Village, Dalmarnock.
The latest £2.4 million development in Camlachie consists of 18 amenity homes designed for older people with two ground floor flats being designated for wheelchair users.
The project, which also includes a community car park, was constructed by CCG (Scotland) Ltd and given funding support by Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and WSHA.
Minister for Housing, Kevin Stewart MSP, said: “This development will provide affordable, good quality social rented housing and will provide much needed housing in the area.
“We have committed to deliver 50,000 more affordable homes over the next five years, backed up with investment of more than £3 billion and announcements such as this one mark each step we take on delivering that pledge.”
Other recent physical regeneration includes a new community park and improved recreational facilities at the local community centre.
The association has also invested in providing services that improve the health and wellbeing of tenants and the wider community, including a money and energy advice service, older person’s service, youth diversionary programmes, food parcels and starter packs for tenants moving in to the local area. Wider tenant support is also provided by the association in the form of an in-house welfare rights team.
One member of the community who has witnessed the changes in the area is Rita Gallagher.
She said: “I have lived in Camlachie for 44 years and there have been a lot of improvements since WSHA started working in the area.
“I was lucky enough to get one of the new amenity homes and it has been a fantastic move for me. It is great having the outdoor space and the house is lovely.
“Being on the ground floor means I have a greater sense of freedom and there is already a sense of community spirit among everyone living here.”
Lynne Donnelly, chief executive of WSHA, added: “West of Scotland Housing Association is committed to building stronger, safer and healthier communities where people have opportunities to reach their full potential.
“We are proud of the regeneration we have undertaken in Camlachie and delighted to have been working with residents here since 1996 to provide high-quality homes and services that meet their different needs.”
Councillor George Redmond, executive member for Jobs, Business and Investment at Glasgow City Council, said: “It is very pleasing to see this housing development complete, a key stage in the regeneration of Camlachie and the transformation of what was a vacant brownfield site.
“This is yet another example of the building of high-quality new homes in the city, and this is very important as it means real improvement in the quality of life for many people.
“I am delighted to say that Glasgow City Council helped to fund this project, working with partners including West of Scotland Housing Association and the Scottish Government.”
ENDS
Notes to editor:
Press contact:
Sabrina Allan
Communication and PR advisor
DD: 0141 550 5630 T: 0141 550 5600 M: 07743 464 417
E: Sabrina.Allan@westscot.co.uk
Image – (L-R) Ruth Simpson, chair, WSHA, tenants Jean Bell and Rita Gallagher, Kevin Stewart MSP and Lynne Donnelly, chief executive, WSHA.
Camlachie (also known as Barrowfield) is in the shadow of Celtic Park and is regarded by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation to be one of Scotland’s most deprived communities.
Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics (2010) indicate that the community has 49 per cent of residents who are income deprived compared to the Scottish national average of 14 per cent.
The area has a long-standing history of social and economic deprivation. In the 1990’s the area had a reputation as being ‘run-down’ and somewhere to avoid.
At this time, the future of the community was in jeopardy when there were potential plans to demolish all of the homes. However, a group of passionate local activists prevented this and formed Camlachie Housing Association to drive the regeneration of the area.
1996 saw the merger of Camlachie Housing Association and West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA).
WSHA shared the vision to regenerate the area and the millennium saw the start of the transformation of the area when the first new houses were built on the Distillery site at the top of Yate Street.
WSHA is one of Scotland’s oldest social landlords, and is a people-focused, dynamic social housing provider with an unique history and vision for the future. We provide great quality homes at affordable rents in Glasgow and throughout the west of Scotland to over 3,500 tenants, including mainstream, sheltered and amenity housing.
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West of Scotland Housing Association contact details…
Contact: Sabrina Allan
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Email: sabrina.allan@westscot.co.uk
Website: http://www.westscot.co.uk
