Sanctuary Scotland’s £19 million Skye Crescent development increases the town’s affordable housing options and transforms a nine-acre brownfield site.

Gary Anderson, his fiancée Jennifer Arrol, 42, their son Luke, 8, and three-year-old cat Oscar moved into a two-bedroom terraced house in the summer.

The first-time Sanctuary tenants previously lived around the corner, where Gary – who has mobility issues – had to struggle with 40 outside steps.

Gary, 46, said: “In winter the steps would freeze over, making it too dangerous for me to go outside. The new house is simply great. I enjoy being able to sit out in the garden and the downstair toilet means I don’t have to tackle the stairs. And so many of Luke’s friends live close by, so it’s been really good for him.”

Solar panels on the roofs of all 131 houses are reducing people’s energy bills. Of the 109 homes for social rent, Sanctuary Scotland will manage 79, with the remaining 30 owned and managed by Paisley Housing Association.

Twenty-two of the 2 and 3-bedroom semi-detached and terraced houses have been bought by first-time buyers using the Scottish Government’s shared equity scheme. Every home can be adapted with ease for people with mobility needs. Two of the houses are specifically wheelchair-friendly.

Sanctuary Scotland vice-chair Alex Clark added: “This is a significant development and the latest example of Sanctuary’s commitment to improving Renfrewshire’s affordable
housing options. Since 2005 Sanctuary Scotland has built 1,146 new homes across 11 sites in Renfrewshire, a total investment of more than £142m.

“Our new residents are thrilled to get a warm, energy-efficient and secure house at a time when so many things in the world are uncertain.

“Sanctuary will continue to work with others – in this case Renfrewshire Council, the Scottish Government and Paisley Housing Association – to create great new homes plus
the wider community, employment and training benefits that developments like this bring with them.”

Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said the development was a “great addition” to a growing supply
of high-quality affordable housing.

He added: “Our Strategic Housing Investment Plan sets out how the council and our housing association partners intend to build 1,000 new affordable homes by 2027,
and this development is a big step towards that.

“It also complements the investment we are making with our own new-build projects, where we have tenants moving into 39 new council homes at Auchengreoch Road in Johnstone and a further 101 new homes nearing completion in the Tannahill area of Ferguslie.”

Kathleen McCutcheon, chief executive of Paisley Housing Association, added: “The unique partnership between Paisley HA and Sanctuary Scotland resulted in quality homes
for people in housing need, showing our ongoing commitment to the community.

“Paisley HA is particularly pleased to have created two new wheelchair-friendly homes. One of those residents has expressed, much better than I could, how her new home has transformed her life.

“She said ‘I love everything about the house, it has given me my independence and life back’. She particularly loves her kitchen with views of the Gleniffer Braes Country Park, which she can now look at for hours.”

The project was part-funded with an £11.7m Scottish Government grant.

Housing secretary Shona Robison MSP said: “It’s fantastic to see the completion of this significant new development.

“This project demonstrates the hard work and commitment of the housing associations and Renfrewshire Council as they continued to work in partnership throughout the challenges of the pandemic to deliver what is one of the biggest housing developments in Paisley for some time.

“We are proud of delivering 112,993 affordable homes since 2007 with over 79,000 for social rent. We are now delivering against our commitment of 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 70% will be for social rent and 10% in remote, rural and island communities.”