retailTRUST, a trade charity for people working in retail and the support service industries, is working with Clark Contracts and Bank of Scotland to embark on a major redevelopment of their well-loved retirement estate in Crookfur, Newton Mearns.

The aim of the project is to transform the Crookfur Estate by introducing ‘connected living’, while increasing the accommodation available in the area for retail retirees. retailTRUST will create 100 new affordable and digitally enabled residential units to help more people live independently in their own homes.

Patricia Fraser, daughter of the late Sir Hugh Fraser who generously bestowed the grounds of the Estate, attended a ground breaking ceremony yesterday. Guests included Jim Fletcher, Provost of East Renfrewshire; Leo McKee, chair of the Crookfur Capital Appeal Committee; Michael Scanlan, director at Clark Contracts, and Fraser Sime, regional director at the Bank of Scotland.

Patricia Fraser said: “The Fraser family, and especially my father, the late Sir Hugh, have had a very close affinity with Crookfur cottageHOMES since well before the first buildings were established in the 1960’s. My father’s great vision and philanthropy in bestowing the land to cottageHOMES created a strong bond which has been continued by The Hugh Fraser Foundation supporting the development of the estate for residents of Crookfur over six decades. It is a relationship which has stood the test of time and today we at the Foundation are pleased to be able to offer £500,000 to support the next phase of the redevelopment.”

The project is also being supported by a £5 million development loan from the Bank of Scotland.

Fraser Sime, regional director at the Bank of Scotland, said: “The funding we have provided will help retailTRUST to continue to transform the lives of people across the Glasgow area. Former retail employees can struggle to find suitable homes in their older age, and the new development will help to provide affordable, high-quality housing where people can have a safe and enjoyable retirement. We are committed to helping Scotland prosper. This is why we continually strive to support businesses and charities, like retailTRUST, to help them reach their full potential.”

Richard Boland, retailTRUST chief executive, added: “Over the next five years or more what we are creating will be transformational on so many levels. Firstly, in creating 100 new residential units on the site and secondly in delivering ‘connected homes’ enabled with future proofing in the rapidly developing digital care environment.”

A capital appeal has been launched and organisations are encouraged to get involved in this life-changing project. For more information about supporting the appeal, please email info@retailtrust.org.uk.