GHA becomes first RSL to win Best Development at national property awards
A development by Glasgow Housing Association of 130 homes for social rent in Castlemilk has been hailed as the best in Scotland.
The new homes in Dougrie Drive scooped the Best Development at the Herald Property Awards 2018, seeing off tough competition from some of the biggest names in housebuilding. It is the first time a Registered Social Landlord has won the best development category.
The £14.8 million Castlemilk project, which includes an amenity block of 44 homes designed for older tenants, was one of two developments by GHA, part of Wheatley Group, to win at the prestigious awards.
GHA and its partner Lowther Homes also scooped the Best Regeneration category for their development of 105 social and mid-market homes on the site of an old tram depot in Harvie Street, Govan.
Wheatley Group’s development director, David Fletcher, said: “We are very proud of the quality of homes we are building in our communities and are delighted to have been recognised in this way.
“The redevelopment of the tram depot in Govan is certainly a stunning example of how we’re bringing new life back into communities while providing people with affordable homes to rent. Dougrie Drive is also a great development and a very worthy winner in the Development of the Year category.”
The awards success comes just months after Wheatley was confirmed – for the second year running – as the UK’s largest builder of social-rented homes by Inside Housing.
The group is progressing an ambitious building programme, from 2015 through to 2025, of 7500 affordable new homes from Balloch and Dumbarton through Glasgow, West Lothian and Edinburgh to North Berwick.
The Herald Property Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of those who design, build, convert, renovate, buy, sell and manage homes across Scotland. The event, hosted by comedian Des Clarke, was attended by 500 people.