Minister praises new inexpensive housing developments

A SCOTTISH Authorities minister has praised Wheatley Group for growing the vary of housing accessible to lease throughout the nation.

Patrick Harvie MSP, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Energetic Journey and Tenants’ Rights, was extremely impressed throughout his go to to 2 Lowther mid-market lease developments in Glasgow this week.

Lowther, which is a part of Wheatley Group – a Scottish housing, care and property administration group – lets and manages round 2,640 mid-market and full-market houses throughout central and southern Scotland.

Mid-market lease (MMR) houses provide various inexpensive housing for folks on a modest revenue who’ve problem in qualifying for social housing, shopping for their very own house or renting privately on the open market.

The Wheatley Group focuses on high quality and affordability when developing their Lowther Houses.

Mr Harvie visited Lowther’s award-winning Bell Road growth, a former B-listed Victorian steady block within the Service provider Metropolis refurbished in 2019.

He additionally visited a website in close by Calton Village, which is able to see 123 MMR houses constructed by early subsequent 12 months for the primary section of its growth.

Delivered in three phases, Calton Village will see the regeneration of a five-acre website subsequent to the Gallowgate, at Melbourne Road, Armour Road and Sydney Road. 

In Calton Village, greater than 250 inexpensive houses for lease are taking form on previously vacant land within the east finish of Glasgow.

The houses, developed in partnership between Wheatley Group and Glasgow Metropolis Council, are being constructed by contractor McTaggart Development.

Harvie was joined by Wheatley Group Chief Govt Steven Henderson, Lowther Managing Director James Ward, Lowther Chair Eric Gibson, and Wheatley Group’s Director of Improvement and Regeneration Lindsay Lauder.

Mr Harvie stated: “The correct to a heat, secure and inexpensive house is essential to wellbeing and is a proper everybody deserves.

“Wheatley Group performs a helpful function in growing the vary of housing accessible to lease all through Scotland.

“Scottish Authorities funding of £2.13m was made accessible to assist the completion of the Bell Road growth.

“Greater than £32m of Scottish Authorities funding has been dedicated to this point to allow Lowther to supply over 250 houses for inexpensive housing at Calton Village.

“I’m impressed by the standard of those developments by Lowther.

“Excessive-quality housing is a key pillar of our long-term housing technique Housing to 2040, together with eradicating gas poverty and homelessness and making certain everybody has entry to inexperienced area and important companies.”

Lowther tenant Beth Galloway, 27, a civil servant who moved into Bell Road with companion Sean in 2020, stated: “Mid-market lease is an effective choice if folks don’t have sufficient for a mortgage.

“We each labored in Glasgow so dwelling right here suited us. The lease is admittedly good for dwelling on this a part of the town, less expensive than a personal rented flat. We’re each very completely satisfied right here.”

Eric Gibson, Chair of Lowther, stated: “Our mid-market lease houses are a extremely good choice for individuals who could not qualify for social housing however can’t afford to get on the property ladder.

“Lowther is without doubt one of the greatest suppliers of mid-market houses in central Scotland and we had been delighted to indicate the Minister round a few of our houses.

“Bell Road is a multi-award-winning growth, and our new-build houses at Calton Village will assist enhance the availability of inexpensive housing and breathe new life into that a part of the east finish.”