A supported housing development for people with disabilities in the Dumfries & Galloway village of Beeswing has scooped a top national housing award from the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland.

Hallam House, which was built by Loreburn Housing Association with additional funding from the Scottish Government and Dumfries & Galloway Council, consists of five purpose-built supported housing units for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, with a dedicated staff base. It provides local specialist care for people who previously had to be moved outside the area because of a lack of suitable supported accommodation.

The development scooped the Excellence in Development for Rented Properties Award at the CIH Excellence Awards categories on November 11.

Loreburn Housing Association, which manages around 2,500 homes across the region, has had a remarkable turnaround since coming out of a two-year period of intervention by the Scottish Housing regulator in 2015. As well as the award for Hallam House, the organisation also reached the final in two other categories - Housing Team of the Year, and The Robina Goodlad Excellence Award for Women Achievers in Housing for chief executive Lorraine Usher.

Lorraine Usher said: “Hallam House is a unique example of partnership working at its best and I was delighted to see it recognised by the Chartered Institute of Housing. Working together with Dumfries and Galloway Council and The Scottish Government, we have created a first-class facility with state-of-the-art technology that has brought so many benefits to the village of Beeswing and surrounding areas.

“It has created much-needed affordable homes for local people with disabilities who previously had to be moved outside the area. Living at Hallam House has allowed these people to spend much more valuable time with their families. The development has also created local jobs and brought a disused site back to life, which is all great news.”