Clackmannanshire Council Online

Dawn of new housing era in Tullibody

Delighted tenants received the keys to their brand new homes earlier this week marking the completion of the first phase of the Newmills redevelopment project.

The new development's first residents Michael and Stacy Stewart were presented with the keys to their front door by Ochil View Housing Association chairperson Teresa McNally accompanied by Councillor Kenny Earle, the Council's partnership portfolio holder.

Michael and Stacy said: "We are living in Tullibody now and are so pleased to stay in our local area and have a new home. We are delighted with the house and think the Newmills development is great."

The £2.9 million development by Alloa-based Ochil View Housing Association was part grant funded by the Scottish Government and followed the demolition of the unpopular long blocks. It has provided a total of 26 new semi-detached 3 and 4 apartment family homes, including 2 wheelchair accessible bungalows, in the newly named Paterson Place.

Teresa McNally, said: "The Association is delighted to have reached this important milestone in the regeneration of the Newmills area and that the families allocated one of the new properties can now enjoy all the standards and comforts of their new homes. This development proves once again, given the necessary resources along with a proactive and 'can do' local authority, that Ochil View can make a significant difference to local communities. I would like to offer the Association's best wishes to all the tenants in the development."

The redevelopment has been achieved thanks to partnership working between the Council and Ochil View Housing Association, which is set to continue into the second phase.

Councillor Sam Ovens, the Council's regeneration portfolio holder, said: "We have been working with Ochil View Housing Association and local tenants' representatives on this project for several years now and I am delighted that the first tenants are now moving into their new homes.

"Newmills was one of the most unpopular areas of housing in the county, and thanks to our partnership with Ochil View it has been transformed into an area of quality and affordable housing that meets the needs and aspirations of local people. It is fantastic news.

"Looking to the future, the Council is providing continuity to Ochil View to maintain local redevelopment with the Ash Grove scheme in the pipeline, followed by new housing for the elderly in Sauchie."

The properties were allocated by Ochil View Housing Association with 50% of the applicants nominated by Clackmannanshire Council through the long standing nomination procedure agreed between the two organisations.

Helping reduce the impact on the environment has been a key feature of the development. Each of the properties has been built to a very high energy efficiency standard, achieving a high EcoHomes rating, building materials are from sustainable and eco-certified sources, highly efficiency heating systems and a hyper insulated building means minimal carbon dioxide (C02) emissions.

The development also incorporates the necessary security and safety features to achieve 'Secured by Design' as accredited by Central Scotland Police.

The Council remains committed to the long-term regeneration of the area and
work has begun on preparing the ground for the second phase of Newmills redevelopment, which will be built on the site of the adjacent Newmills long block, which was demolished in 2007. The next development of 14 homes is due for completion by January 2009.

Notes to Editors

1) EcoHomes is an environmental rating for homes. This straightforward, flexible and independently verified assessment method seeks to improve the overall environmental performance of new and existing homes. It considers the broad environmental concerns of climate change, resource use and impacts on wildlife. It balances these against the need for a high quality of life and a safe and healthy internal environment. Eight categories are considered:

• Energy
• Water
• Pollution
• Materials
• Transport
• Ecology and land use
• Health and well being
• Management

2) Secured by Design is the UK Police flagship initiative supporting the principles of 'designing out crime' by use of effective crime prevention and security standards for a range of applications.

3) The street name Paterson Place was agreed in February 2007 following a recommendation made by Ian Murray, the Council's Information Librarian and Archivist to honour the work of William Burns Paterson, who was born in Tullibody in 1850. Paterson founded the institution which become Alabama State University and was a major figure in the education of newly-freed slaves in the southern states of the USA.