Thirty-seven state-of-the-art new build council homes in Dumbarton were given a ministerial seal of approval when they were officially opened this week.

Margaret Burgess MSP, minister for housing and welfare, visited the new homes yesterday and joined Councillor David McBride, the council’s convener of housing, in marking the opening of the development.

The £4 million Hillstreet Square project, which received £1.9m funding from the Scottish Government, has transformed the area of Brucehill, taking just 11 months to complete.

For the first time in 25 years West Dunbartonshire Council designed and procured the new-build housing project in-house.

All the properties have been designed to a ‘silver standard’ which means that they are more energy efficient. They will release less carbon dioxide than the average home and use less energy to heat the rooms and water supply, allowing significant savings to be made on household bills.

Housing minister Margaret Burgess said: “This project, backed by more than £1.8 million from the Scottish Government, represents the benefits of effective and committed long-term partnership working involving the community. The Scottish Government has worked hard with West Dunbartonshire Council to deliver these 37 new properties for social rent. They are not only good for new tenants but for Dumbarton’s Brucehill area. Good quality, easy to heat, affordable homes are about quality of life and the difference this makes to the people, their families and the wider community.”

Councillor David McBride, convener of housing, added: “Officially opening this new build development is an extremely proud day for everyone who has been involved in the project. To have created such wonderful homes to this level of design standard is a phenomenal achievement and we have now set the bar for affordable housing throughout West Dunbartonshire. This development has also allowed us to create three specially adapted wheelchair accessible homes for families whose needs were not able to be met within the Council’s existing stock. This shows our commitment to providing the very best for residents in West Dunbartonshire.”

The development, which was built by contractor CCG Scotland Ltd, is made up of 16 one bedroom flats, 6 four bedroom houses, 6 three bedroom houses, 6 two bedroom houses, 2 two bedroom wheelchair bungalows and 1 four bedroom wheelchair bungalow.

At the centre of the development is a community garden which is being created in consultation with the community and has had input on the designs from pupils at Brucehill Early Education and Childcare Centre.

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, vice-convener of housing, said: “These are fantastic new homes which have been created at the heart of Brucehill. We are committed to improving local housing and a development like this just goes to show what can be achieved in West Dunbartonshire. Today marks the end of a long project, but it is just the start of a new beginning for the tenants who have moved into these fantastic new homes.”

Since 2013, and 25 years on from the last new council homes built in the area, West Dunbartonshire Council has invested over £8m in providing 121 new build council homes in Clydebank, Haldane, Bellsmyre and Brucehill. This has included over £4m in grant funding from the Scottish Government.

Work to develop around 40 new homes in Clydebank is set to get under way next year.

@WDCouncil