A group of dignitaries have been shown around the site of a new £6m affordable housing development in Elgin, the construction of which has been made possible through a strong partnership between Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association, Moray Council, the Scottish Government and Health and Social Care Moray.

Cllr Lorna Creswell, chair of Health and Social Care Moray, was shown the progress of the new development at Glassgreen, just off Thornhill Road, with Cllr James Allan as well as Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association board member, Professor Alison Petch and Hanover chief executive, Helen Murdoch.

Working closely together, Hanover Scotland, Moray Council and Health and Social Care Moray identified the need for a new model of housing in the area that has the flexibility to provide extra care with both dementia and wheelchair specific flats.

Glassgreen is the second development in the area to use this model, with the first one nearing completion at Leask Road, Forres. Every flat is designed for flexible use and to maximise the use of space, is well insulated, and even features an air source heat pump to reduce heating costs.

In total, the development will consist of 30 two-bedroom flats and is estimated to be completed at the end of July 2017. There will be four wheelchair accessible flats, six flats specifically designed for people with dementia and 20 extra care flats in a single building. It will incorporate a communal Hub which contains a reception area, common room, office/meeting room, toilets and kitchen/café area on the ground floor, as well as a sleepover suite and toilets on the first floor.

Work began on the site at Glassgreen in late March 2016 and is just one of three sites Hanover is currently working on in Moray with other locations at Leask Road, Forres and Haugh Road, Elgin.

After the visit, Cllr Lorna Creswell said: “The new Hanover complex in Forres is almost complete and ready to accept residents. I was delighted to see further modern housing for those with care needs being built in Elgin. I’m keen to see them established and ready for people to move in next summer.”

Hanover board member, Alison Petch, said: “We want people to remain in their own homes with their own front doors. We will be able to provide 24 hour support in our specialist dementia flats and an innovative extra care service in the other flats.”