PRESS RELEASE

Scottish Homes invests £12.5 million to transform Airdrie estate	1st October 2001
The first new homes in a multi-million project to regenerate Airdie’s Petersburn estate were opened today by the local MSP Karen Whitefield. The 60 houses are part of a £20 million partnership project, involving Scottish Homes, North Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, Link Housing Association and the contractors D Campbell and Co, to create 285 high quality new homes in the Mull and Iona areas of the estate over the next four years. It is backed by Scottish Homes with grant-funding of almost £12.5 million - the biggest single grant commitment the housing and regeneration agency has ever made. The project partners took an innovative approach to developing the new homes, offering the entire project, which will be built in seven phases, as one contract. Scottish Homes Chief Executive Bob Millar said: “Local residents have been closely involved with the project partners in developing the plans for the estate. The result will be a better range of houses which are more suited to meeting local housing needs, and a safer, more attractive and community-centred development. “The scale of the development means that the partners have been able to secure better quality homes at a reduced cost, and provide new opportunities in training and employment for local people.” The vast majority of the new homes (205) will be for rent through Link Housing Association, but there will also be homes available for shared ownership and sale. All the new homes will meet very high standards of energy-efficiency and security, and all will be designed to meet the varying needs of families and older people The contractors will supply employment and training placements for local people. Ten young people from the estate have already taken up college places as the first step towards completing trades apprenticeships.
Joanna Swanson Tel: 0131 479 5163