It’s just one of the community benefits delivered as part of North Lanarkshire Council’s new council housing site at Castlehill Road and from the outset involved tenants who voted for their preferred design.

The house makes excellent use of the space available and is equipped with a fabulous beauty therapy room complete with a hairdresser’s chair and beauty mirror, living area, kitchen, bathroom and garden area. The retirement housing officer also has a designated space on site to support tenants and residents.

North Lanarkshire Council’s new supply community benefits team added the finishing touches by providing funds for two new TV’s, a fridge, decoration and board games. The house’s completion also provided an opportunity for painting and decoration students from New College Lanarkshire to brush up on their skills and gain some work experience by carrying out the decor. Local supplier, Indu-Coat, based in Lenziemill Industrial Estate, donated the paint used for decorating the amenity house.

North Lanarkshire depute provost, Bob Burgess, visited the house and spoke to some of the tenants. He said: “This is a fantastic venue for local tenants and residents to get together and enjoy the facilities offered. It really has been a team effort to get to the finished result. From the initial ideas and design, which were agreed by tenants, to the build, decoration and final touches – it’s been an amazing project.

“It’s a great asset to the local community and one which I’m sure will be well used. I’ve enjoyed being here today and seeing and hearing first-hand the benefits it will bring.”

John McCusker, head of construction trades technology at New College Lanarkshire, added: “This is a prime example of where the local authorities Community Benefits programme and the College can come together for the benefit of all.

“This end product is a result of the dedication of both the staff and students from New College Lanarkshire, across the Departments of Construction Trades Technology and Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) section. This success has seen the project expanded to include the manufacture of furniture and planters for the garden area to the rear of the Amenity House.”

The Castlehill Road development is being delivered by CCG (Scotland) and is the first phase of Gowkthrapple’s regeneration Masterplan.

Group HR manager, Lynn Stodart, heads up CCG’s community benefit initiatives across the breadth of the country. She said: “CCG has worked with North Lanarkshire Council for a number of years now. Together, we have not only helped change lives for people in places like Wishaw with new, high-quality homes but we have also created a legacy of jobs, training and investment.

“Castlehill Road is no different. Beyond this brilliant community hub, we have delivered 6 new jobs, 8 work placements, and £8,000 of locally based investment whilst our community benefit team has helped raise awareness about careers in construction to aspiring high school pupils across the local authority. We extend our very best wishes to all of the new residents and thank the council for their ongoing support.”

As part of North Lanarkshire Council’s new council house building programme it maximises the delivery of community benefits. These form part of the council’s valuation process when we’re reviewing contracts for its new build projects and these benefits are key to supporting communities, future workforce and local people.