£135m home plan work starts

Eric Baxter 1629 - 1629 • Published 16 Jun 2009 14:00

NEW apprenticeships are being created by River Clyde Homes as part of a £135 million programme to build more than 1,000 houses.

The Scottish Government"s housing and communities minister Alex Neil visited Port Glasgow to mark the start of the work yesterday.

The seven-year project to create 1,050 new homes is one of the largest programmes in Scotland and will see 15 apprentices hired over the next three years.

The MSP said: 'This will bring significant benefits to Inverclyde and is a shining example of how a local authority, housing association and housing developer can work together to enrich a community.

'Against a backdrop of economic turmoil, it is important we take steps to safeguard jobs, supporting the construction industry and keeping the economy moving.

'Local communities have played an important role in the design of not only the houses but also the social space surrounding the developments.'

Work started yesterday on the first 335 new homes in Broadfield Avenue, Woodhall.

River Clyde, Scotland"s third-largest housing association, has been allocated £21 million this year by the Scottish Government to support its new-build programme and maintenance work on existing properties.

River Clyde said it is working closely with the Inverclyde Construction Forum to optimise opportunities for local suppliers and contractors.

Karen Neary, chief executive of River Clyde, said: 'We have been liaising closely with local people in the regeneration areas who have been involved in everything from the appointment of the architects to how best to work with the sloping nature of the sites.'

Key elements of the plan include the demolition of 2,500 unpopular homes - involving the re-housing of 1,300 families - as well as building 1,050 new homes and investing in 5,000 existing homes to bring them up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Roy Steel, chairman of River Clyde, said: 'We are committed to creating sustainable communities in addition to providing the best possible housing standards.'

Opportunities from management positions to bricklayers to ground-workers will be available in the area as a result of the programme.

Over 300 weeks worth of "non-waged" labour opportunities will also be available for people studying for construction courses to gain experience on a building site as part of their studies.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 16 Jun 09

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