Housing Minister opens new 1.5m housing development in Hamilton
The drizzle certainly didn’t dampen spiritis when Housing Minister Margaret Burgess cut the ribbon at Chantinghall Gardens in Hamilton, to mark Hanover’s latest housing development officially open.
The £1.5m amenity development contains 13 properties for rent to older people, took two years to complete and was built in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council. It’s been awarded the coveted Secure by Design award, given to homes that benefit from enhanced security features, and it makes best use of passive solar gain technologies, including glazed sun spaces.
Also in attendance was constituency MSP Christina McKelvie and, following the ribbon cutting, a tour of the development took place including a visit to three residents’ homes.
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said: “I was delighted to open this development for older people, which has benefited from half a million in Scottish Government funding. These high quality amenity homes are an excellent example of good partnership working.
“Older people are a vital part of the community and developments such as Chantinghall Gardens allow individuals to remain within their local community while catering for their specific needs.”
Christina McKelvie MSP added “I have spoken to residents here and they are obviously delighted with their new homes. This is exactly the kind of building we need to encourage so that older people can stay in their homes leading independent lives in a great community.”
Bunty Fowler, Chairperson of Hanover, said “This is a partnership project between Hanover and South Lanarkshire Council and a lot of hard work went into the planning. Hanover has an excellent working relationship with South Lanarkshire Council, going back many years and, as a result, in addition to this new development we have been able to provide five very sheltered housing developments (two in Hamilton), two sheltered developments and 24 amenity properties.
“I was here almost exactly two years ago when Keith Brown and myself cut the first ‘sod’ to mark the start of the building work. It’s my pleasure to welcome everyone here again today and I’d like to thank the Housing Minister Margaret Burgess and Christina McKelvie MSP for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend the ceremony.”
Pictured: Housing Minister Margaret Burgess (left) with Hanover chairperson Bunty Fowler, cutting the ribbon.
