Works starts on new affordable homes at Tom Johnston House site

Work has begun on a brand new affordable housing development located on the site of the former Tom Johnston house in Kirkintilloch.

The development will include social rented and shared equity flats and houses. The development is in partnership with hub West Scotland, with whom the Council has previously partnered on successful projects including Holy Trinity Primary School and Kirkintilloch Town Hall.

Designed by Mast Architects and G3 Consulting Engineers, the new development at the site of former East Dunbartonshire Council Headquarters will provide 87 homes with a mixture of two, three and four-bedroomed flats and houses. It will be constructed by CCG (Scotland) Ltd and is due to be completed by early 2022.

Joint Council Leader, Cllr Vaughan Moody, said, “I am delighted to see work getting underway at this site. It is a great location with a leisure centre, park, supermarket and bus and train routes all within a stone’s throw. This smart new development will greatly enhance what has been an empty brownfield site for some time.”

Joint Council Leader, Cllr Andrew Polson, added, “This development will increase the stock of council housing in the area at a time when the demand for affordable homes continues to grow. Offering some properties for sale will encourage a mix of tenants and contribute to a greater sense of community, while also providing an opportunity to residents who may not be able to afford to buy in the open market.”

In October 2018, the Council engaged hub West Scotland to procure design services and a building contractor for the proposed project. The public was able to view proposals and give feedback at an exhibition held by the Council’s Housing Team back in March 2019.

Iain Marley, CEO of hub West Scotland, said, “We are thrilled to be taking this project to the construction stage and wish to thank East Dunbartonshire Council and our partners for their skilful and hard work.  The product of that is a high-quality development that will transform a brownfield site and bring affordable homes and a host of other significant benefits to the community.”

CCG Managing Director, David Wylie said: “CCG is delighted to return to East Dunbartonshire as the main contractor for this major new affordable housing development. Delivered to enhanced quality and environmental performance standards, these new homes will not only help support housing supply in Kirkintilloch but also create a lasting legacy of jobs, apprenticeships, work placements, curriculum support in schools and localised investment. We look forward to working with hub West Scotland and the Council as we move toward an early 2022 completion.”

hub West Scotland will be supported by NBM Construction, who will be acting as cost consultant and principal designer on the project.