The stylish £10.2 million development at Cromdale Square by Linthouse Housing Association offers much-needed homes for affordable, social rent.
It has been created on the site of the former Drumoyne Primary School with the support of Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government and by the association securing loan finance from Unity Trust Bank to make the grant funding go further.
Ms Sturgeon – MSP for Glasgow Southside – unveiled a commemorative plaque marking her visit and praised the development of homes. She also visited some of the properties and met tenants who had now moved in.
Nicola Sturgeon said: "It's a pleasure to cut the ribbon on Linthouse Housing Association's latest development. Developments like this one are a vital part of the Scottish Government's housing strategy, providing high-quality social housing.
"This is particularly true when they can bring derelict and disused buildings back into positive use for local people. Govan has always held a special place in my heart and I'm delighted to see this latest addition to a great area."
Councillor Kenny McLean, Convener for Housing at Glasgow City Council, said: "It's great to see the completion of this development of much-needed affordable homes by Linthouse, and these new homes will see this site brought back to life and will act as another sign of the regeneration of the wider area.
"Once again, I am pleased to say that the council contributed to the delivery of more affordable homes in Glasgow."
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The homes have breathed new life into the location where the school once stood – just off Shieldhall Road – which had lain semi-derelict since the structure, built in the 1930s, was closed in 2010.
In a nod to its scholastic past, the familiar façade of the former "B" listed school has been retained and incorporated into the development.
Irene C McFarlane, chief executive of Linthouse Housing Association, called the opening a "huge step forward for affordable housing in our community" added: "The transformation of this site into attractive new homes has lifted our tenants' and the local community's spirits.
"We readily acknowledge the financial support of Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government who share our vision of creating new affordable homes for the people we serve in our community.
"Cromdale Square also contributes positively to the Scottish Government's target of delivering new homes for rent and we are proud to be playing our part."
Alec Leishman, chair of Linthouse's Management Committee, added: "This is a landmark day for Linthouse and the wider community. We have created homes in the heart of our community at a time when they have never been more needed and what a stylish development it is! It looks great and provides fabulous new homes for so many people."
The 49 properties include a mix of 2 and 3-bedroom homes and apartments with four being wheelchair accessible. Interestingly the former janitor's property has been re-purposed into a large family home – again helping to preserve the link with the site's previous use.
The development was built by CCG which has a strong track record of working with housing providers to deliver affordable homes in the city of Glasgow with recent works with Linthouse also consisting of an extensive upgrade of existing tenement properties around the area of Govan.
David Wylie, CCG (Scotland) managing director, said:
"Govan is an area well known for its rich heritage and is one which CCG know very well. We have worked within the community for a number of years across a wide range of projects and we are delighted to have played our part at Cromdale Square where we have helped conserve a popular community asset whilst delivering much-needed affordable homes."
Alongside the creation of the homes, which were each manufactured 'offsite' just 8 miles from the development, CCG also delivered 7 new jobs, supported 7 existing apprenticeships, engaged with local schools and generated £7,000 of investment that was distributed to locally-based projects.
Local MSP Humza Yousaf said:
"It is brilliant to be invited to the grand opening of the 49 new Linthouse homes today, and it really is one of the best parts of the job to see so many happy families finally get into their dream home.
"I was lucky enough to be invited to visit this development of 49 new Linthouse homes at various stages, and to hear about the tenant-centred approach to designing, realising and allocating the homes.
"The homes look beautiful, I know the tenants of Cromdale Square will take great pride in them, and build lasting, strong relationships within this community."
The new homes have been designed by Grant Murray Architects. The engineers were Clyde Design Partnership and quantity surveyor Thomson Cost Consultants.
