The residents’ association at Hanover Housing Association’s Burnside Court site in Buckpool has been awarded almost £10,000 from the National Lottery to renovate the garden of the development to include more communal space, an outdoor bowls lane, French boules court and 3 to 4 small putting holes.

The Association had already raised £1000 themselves, but it was the assistance of 39 Engr Regiment at Kinloss Barracks which made the grant application possible. The ground survey work the Army carried out free of charge provided the residents with the information they needed to get the accurate quotes needed to submit their successful grant application.

Work is now nearing completion with residents planning a summer party in July to celebrate the completion of the work.

Derek Thompson, chair of Burnside Court Residents Association said: “We are delighted that our grant application has been approved and we can now make better use of the garden area. The resident’s Association is keen to be as active as possible and to organise ourselves effectively and once this work is completed we have a lot of plans for what we can do next.

“I would like to especially thank the local Army for their assistance. We had managed to raise £1000 ourselves but could not have afforded the survey work required for our application so it is very good of them to have agreed to help out. We will make sure they are invited to our opening party.”

Marie Buchan, sheltered housing manager at Burnside Court, said: “What the residents have achieved is absolutely fantastic. As you can see, the residents are very independent and want to live their lives with little or no interference from us. All of the ideas and work has come from them and we have just offered whatever support they have asked us for.

“Between the residents and the army they have taken this project through from start to finish and hopefully it will now be completed soon. I just hope they are kind enough to invite me along to some of the amazing events they have planned.”