Scottish National Investment Bank to fund homes for first time buyers
A £3 million investment by the Scottish National Investment Bank will see 25 high-quality family homes being built in the Nitshill area of Glasgow to be sold to local social housing tenants and first-time buyers.
The Bank’s loan stipulates homes in the Station Wynd development must first be offered to local people, providing them with an affordable opportunity to get on to the property ladder while remaining in their community.
Eilidh Mactaggart, CEO of the Scottish National Investment Bank, said the investment aligns with the Bank’s place mission, to invest in places and regeneration to reduce inequalities and improve opportunities and outcomes for people and communities.
Ms Mactaggart added: “These family homes will allow local people to buy a good quality, energy efficient, first home with excellent public transport links.
“The regeneration of the current site, and priority for local buyers, means that these homes will be a valuable addition to increase access to affordable housing in the area, while bolstering the local community and enabling first-time buyers in Nitshill to stay in their community.”
The Station Wynd site, immediately adjacent to Nitshill train station, is a brownfield site currently part of the Glasgow Vacant and Derelict Land register. The development will transform this derelict site to a modern housing development of desirable and liveable family 2 and 3 bed homes built to a high design specifications.
The homes facilitated by the Bank’s loan are being developed under a development agreement between Strathcarron Developments Limited and Glasgow City Council, with the site part of the council’s Nitshill Regeneration Framework.
The Bank’s loan of £3m will be repaid by the developer from sales proceeds of the housing.
The developer was unable to find finance from the high street banks or other private sector finance to support this development, the Bank added.
Strathcarron Developments director Dallas Rhodes said: “Station Wynd is an important project that has been in the pipeline for some time now, and the involvement and support of the Scottish National Investment Bank and Glasgow City Council has helped to finally bring it to fruition.
“Improving derelict spaces like this can help evolve whole communities and we hope it will have a really positive impact for the local area and lead to further investment.”
The project is being supported by a Partnership Support for Regeneration grant from the Scottish Government, administered by Glasgow City Council. The homes will be built to a high standard of energy efficiency supporting Scotland’s transition to net zero.
Leading the sale of the development will be established agent Corum which has significant experience and knowledge of the local area.
Corum’s head of marketing, Gordon McGuire, described the development as being an important project that will help fulfil the need for quality local housing, he said: “The Nitshill area has been pushing for regeneration in recent years and we have seen a significant rise in demand for quality housing in the area.
“The biggest challenge the property market faces right now is a lack of stock, particularly within urban areas such as Nitshill, and the Station Wynd project will be a welcome addition.”