THE first eco-friendly housing development of its kind in Scotland has been launched in Paisley.

Barnabas Court is a unique complex made up of 27 super energy efficient homes on Castle Street, in the heart of the university district of the town.

The apartments are built using PolySteel - a recyclable biodegradable material that contains no CFC's or HFC's.

The technology behind the houses means that they have less impact on the environment and will need less heating than traditional builds - which will help keep household costs down.

The development is the brainchild of local builder, Globe Homes, which has invested considerable time and energy in bringing one of the latest construction methods to Paisley.


Leo Reilly, Managing Director of Globe Homes, said: "The building is made from PolySteel, which was developed in the United States about 30 years ago. By combining the strength of steel and the enhanced insulation of expanding polystyrene, we can make greener, warmer and quieter houses.

"These eco-friendly apartments are an extremely energy efficient building method and I am really proud that the first development of its kind like this in Scotland is in Paisley. So many things in Paisley town centre are changing for the better and we hope that people will be enticed back into living in the town again. We are having a lot of interest in our unique eco-friendly flats, and a number of reservations have been taken already."

Renfrewshire Council Leader, Derek Mackay, chair of Paisley Vision Board, said: "This is just another indication of the new work which is going on to rejuvenate the town centre of Paisley and the Vision Board is very excited about this development. The continual trend of house building in this area is also very positive, despite an increasingly difficult market.

"The combination of affordable and eco-friendly housing is sure to be attractive to new buyers and more people living in the town centre again is only going to be of benefit to Paisley.

"Barnabas Court is an innovative idea and to have the first development of this kind in Scotland, built here in Paisley, is a real coup for the town."

(GK/JM)