The Willow Park Housing Development in Dumbarton will see 17 new assisted living homes built by housebuilder McTaggart Construction.

The development on the site of a former care home, in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council, is being funded from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme future new build element of the Housing Capital Investment Programme.

Existing residents from the adjacent former Willox Park Sheltered Housing Complex will be given priority for the new homes with the first tenant moving in late 2025.

The 17 one-bedroom new affordable homes for West Dunbartonshire Council will provide housing for tenants with varying needs.

The central ground source pump will see 120-metre bore holes - equivalent in depth to three times the height of the Erskine Bridge tap - tap into the underground to provide low carbon affordable heat for all 17 homes. 

Janice Russell, managing director of McTaggart Construction, added: “Delivering quality affordable accommodation can change lives and communities for the better and we are delighted to be working in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council on Willow Park.

“This project is McTaggart’s first ground source project and we look forward to seeing the positive impact on local residents.”

Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, convener of Housing and Communities, visited the site with housing development manager Dawn Conner, McTaggart’s pre-development director AJ McFarlane, site manager Craig Helder and construction director John Allan.

Councillor Johal said: “This is an important step in the development of homes for older members of the community and I want to thank both the tenants and the council’s housing officers who have worked collaboratively to achieve this outcome.

“It was vitally important that the tenants expressed their views and housing officers made sure these were properly represented. These homes will help with meeting our housing needs for the elderly.”

McTaggart Construction’s approach to delivering social and economic benefit on each project is reflected in their job creation and educational programmes to support local residents, as well as their £5,000 support for local community initiatives.

CSR manager, Ross Hammell, said: “We are committed to working with West Dunbartonshire Council to maximise the potential for creation of new jobs, support learning and provide support to local community projects. We have already developed strong local partnerships that have provided local employment and engaged with hundreds of students across the local authority area.”

McTaggart Construction was named National Earn and Learn Award winner for Inclusion and social mobility and is Skill Development Scotland’s Apprenticeship employer of the year.