Working in partnership with the Scottish Government, the council has acquired a significant piece of land at Primrose Street, Alloa, adjacent to the Speirs Centre. It is anticipated that the acquisition will be fully funded by the Scottish Government’s affordable housing supply budget allocation for Clackmannanshire.

The site of the former Co-operative Building, the Primrose Street site was bought by Alloa Development Company Ltd in 2012. The building was demolished in 2013 and planning permission granted for a mixed development of retail units and 60 flats.

In recent years the council has invested over £12 million towards the regeneration of Alloa town centre. This has included the Imagine Alloa streetscape improvements and public art, relocating the council’s headquarters to Kilncraigs, and renovating the grade A listed Speirs Centre. The investment in the Primrose Street site will compliment these improvement works.

It is likely that the council will work in partnership with a housing association to build affordable housing on the site. It has been estimated that the Alloa area needs around 75 new affordable houses per year. A further new build housing development with Kingdom Housing Association is also planned at nearby Primrose Place, which will further enhance the area whilst providing badly needed homes for rent.

Housing convener councillor Les Sharp said: “This site occupies a prime position in Alloa town centre and its redevelopment for affordable housing, with or without retail, would bring a number of benefits to the town centre beyond meeting housing needs. New homes in the town centre not only improve the appearance of the area, but they bring customers into the area to support local businesses. The residents also contribute to making a vibrant town centre.

“Our focus is on Making Clackmannanshire Better, which includes making sure we are doing everything we can to improve people’s quality of life and making this a better place for residents, businesses and visitors.

“This initiative show the council’s continuing commitment to investing in Clackmannanshire. This has been vital for the area during the longest and deepest recession ever. It has to be remembered that whilst others stopped investing, the council increased it spending. In addition to the £12m spent in Alloa town centre, and the millions of pounds spent to make our housing stock amongst the best in the country, the council also completed three new secondary schools, and invested £8.7m in Redwell Primary School. Wherever possible, budgets have been pooled, and agencies have worked together to maximise the impact of all this investment. It is no exaggeration to say that without the council’s massive investment the local economy would have been completely devastated.

“I am positive that our faith in Clackmannanshire, and Alloa town centre, will encourage others, particularly those in the private sector, to invest and make Clackmannanshire a better place to visit and do business. I would like to thank the Scottish Government for supporting our work in this important area.”

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