Work on a £5.3 million housing development in Clackmannanshire is now complete.

Marshall Construction has built 48 new homes for social rent at Queen Street in Alva.

The scheme, which was developed by Tigh Grian on behalf of Link Group Ltd and Paragon Housing Association, has been officially opened by Housing Minister Kevin Stewart.

The project was supported by more than £3m of funding from the Scottish Government's Greener Homes Initiative scheme.

The mix of one-bedroom cottage flats, and two and three-bedroom homes is Scotland's first volumetric off-site manufactured housing development built to the Gold Standard of Sustainability. Volumetric Construction is a type of off-site manufacturing which increases build quality, while providing the opportunity to reduce construction costs, time and waste.

Link and Paragon are now working with Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, who have provided project support, to enable them to work with Edinburgh Napier University on carrying out an occupancy study of the new properties to measure temperature, sound and energy use over the first 12 months of tenants living in the new homes.


Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: "I am delighted to officially open the Queen Street development. It will provide more homes for social rent, breathe new life into the community, and developed in an innovative way that provides great opportunities for low cost but high quality housing – core to our drive for a fairer Scotland."

Craig Sanderson, Chief Executive of Link Group, said: "We are very pleased to have been supported by the Scottish Government and the Clackmannanshire Council to enable us to build new high quality, affordable, energy efficient homes in Alva.

"Queen Street has allowed to us to meet our design vision of creating sustainable homes using innovative design and constructive technology. I would like to thank all of our partners involved in this project – together I feel we have demonstrated the benefits of successful partnership working."

Gareth Bland, Development & Bid Manager of Marshall Construction added: "This is a fantastic development, we are delighted with the completed project that showcases a first in Scotland for this type of build and demonstrates the future of architectural design, which lies with the integration of renewable energy technologies. I am sure that now this development is complete it will attract a lot of attention and will point the way for future housing."

(LM/MH)