South Lanarkshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership have been working in collaboration with the council’s Housing and Technical Resources and Cruden Building (Scotland) Limited on the multi-million-pound development, supported by funding from the Scottish Government.

Included within the development of 45 new affordable homes and flats, there are 20 technology-enabled flats and bungalows, each of which are fully accessible and equipped with a range of technological solutions to enable older adults to live more independently and for longer within their own homes. These range from simple everyday consumer technology, such as voice-activated lights and gadgets, to more advanced and specialised equipment such as remote alert systems and fall detection.

A state-of-the-art care facility is also nearing completion on the site, which will focus on providing short-term rehabilitation to enable independent living and which will also house a Technology Enabled Care zone designed in collaboration with the Glasgow Science Centre.

Soumen Sengupta, director of health and social care for South Lanarkshire, said: “Our development in Blantyre has been driven by a strong vision for the positive impact that new models of care and new technologies can make to improving people’s everyday lives.

“It is fantastic that the innovations that we have embraced here are already being lauded as best practice at a national level.

“Just as importantly, this Award recognises the exceptional level of commitment demonstrated by our teams and our partners throughout the pandemic in delivering this ambitious project.”

Interim director of housing and technical resources, Annette Finnan, said: “I am delighted that South Lanarkshire has been recognised for our leading-edge work on this development.

“Not only are the technology enabled homes designed to enable older people to live more independently, but they have also been built to the highest achievable standards to be warm, comfortable and energy efficient.

“These new homes, delivered through the council’s housing supply programme Homes+, are centrally located, integrated into the heart of the community and are a real example of place making.”