The new homes, at the corner of Glasgow Road and Barnsdale Road, are a mix of one and two bedroom main door flats, constructed by the JR Group and designed and supported through planning and development by the council’s Housing Services Built Environment team.

They have been built on the site of a former high rise block of council flats, which were demolished in 2022, with each of the properties having its own main door access, garden space and parking.

Stirling Council received just under £1.2 million in grant funding from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme to construct the new homes, with the remaining £800,000 allocated from the council’s housing revenue account.

They are among the most energy-efficient new homes in Stirling, with each property achieving Energy Performance Ratings of A to A+. All homes have also achieved a Gold Standard for Sustainability by reducing the amount of energy needed for heating and reducing carbon dioxide through the installation of a zero emissions heating system.

The homes are also technologically advanced, benefitting from solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage for PV generation and automatic fire suppression systems. They have also been fitted with environmental sensors, which will provide tenants with insights and recommendations on the best indoor conditions for their homes, as well as allowing post construction monitoring of the properties.

Councillor Gerry McGarvey, convener of the community wellbeing and housing committee, said: “I am delighted to see the handover of these excellent new homes.

“With over 3,000 households on the council’s housing list, it is important for the council and local housing associations to continue to develop more affordable new properties to help meet the need for warm, comfortable homes.

“I’d like to thank the housing development team for all their hard work and support in the design and development of this key project. I am also pleased to see that there are many more new affordable homes under construction across Stirling, with developments currently ongoing in Cambusbarron, Croftamie, Killearn, Plean and Raploch.

“The grant funding we received from Scottish Government towards construction is crucial. We need as much funding as possible to help address housing needs in Stirling, including tackling homelessness. These homes will make a significant and lasting difference to the lives of the new residents.”

Founded in Govan in 1995, and now based in Paisley, the JR Group started as a scaffolding business and has grown to employing around 200 staff across Scotland. The St Ninians development is its first in partnership with Stirling Council.

Andrew Dallas, projects director at the JR Group, added: “St Ninians in an incredibly exciting project, not least because of the much-needed regeneration of the area, but due to the creation of some of the most energy-efficient homes in the city.

“We have established a community of warm, spacious and sustainable homes built for the future, and we are confident they will be a very positive asset to both residents and Stirling Council for many years to come.

“This is our first project with Stirling Council, which has been incredibly positive, we look forward working with them again in the near future, continuing to support with increasing social and affordable housing provision across the region.”