Property services company Apollo’s Glasgow operation has completed work on a project to upgrade 13 houses in Port Seton for East Lothian Council.

The 1940s non-traditional ‘Cruden Rural’ homes have been improved to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

The residents remained in situ while Apollo carried out the contract, during the worst winter Scotland has seen for decades.

Cruden Rural houses are steel-framed properties clad in concrete panels built in Scotland specifically to meet the post-Second World War demand for a quick replacement for war-damaged homes.


They require specialist contractor expertise and Apollo won the contract after a competitive tender process.

The upgrade works included the installation of Structherm external insulation and cladding system, replacement of existing roof coverings and new rainwater goods. Apollo used of the Structherm insulated render system to dramatically improve the thermal efficiency of the properties.

The project had become newsworthy for the rescue in March this year by Apollo staff of a sleeping tenant whose house was on fire. Mr John McCaig, 62, was asleep at the time when Kevin McDonald and John Davie kicked his door down and led him to safety.

Brian Morrow, divisional director for Apollo in Scotland, said: “East Lothian Council is an important client for Apollo and the works that we carried out to the non-traditional ‘Cruden Rural‘ properties are our first project for the Council.

“For the specialist work and for the fire rescue, Apollo has gained many plaudits for this project."

(GK/BMcC)