Morrison Scotland has just completed its first eco house at the BRE Innovation Park at Ravenscraig, Motherwell.

The eco house, designed by Apple Green Homes, is the first new-build to be constructed and project managed by Morrison Scotland.

Construction took eight weeks and saw the repairs and maintenance company train its apprentices in a new aspect of construction.

Morrison says its apprentices carried out much of the work, under the supervision of mentors.

The three bedroom house is reportedly one of the greenest homes in Scotland and meets all the building standards up to 2016.

Glasgow Caledonian University helped to work on the design.

The house is built around a steel modular frame and is highly insulated and airtight.


It takes advantage of solar power, meaning the property can provide much of its own hot water and heating.

Willie Docherty, managing director, Morrison Scotland, said: "This has been a fantastic project for Morrison Scotland and I hope it will lead to us being able to build more energy efficient homes for the social housing market in partnership with Apple Green Homes.

"It has also been a great experience for our apprentices who have not only been able to try their hand at new build construction but have been able to learn about energy efficient building, which will undoubtedly become increasingly relevant during their working lives."

Alan Wallace, chief executive of Apple Green Homes, said: "To complete our build at the prestigious BRE Innovation Park at Ravenscraig, we looked for a national company with community ties. Morrison Scotland fitted the bill perfectly. This was proven by their local workers' enthusiasm for the project and the daily use of apprentices in all aspects of the build.

"AppleGreen Homes has been guaranteed substantial funds from pension funds to build social housing. This financial backing was down to both the quality of our product and the choice of our build partner, Morrison Scotland."

(IT)