David Linden, MP for Glasgow East, joined members of the project team including contactor Cruden Building (West) on Friday 21 July to tour the new energy efficient development which has been built on vacant brownfield sites.

Split across two neighbouring sites, 37 two-storey homes including a mix of semi-detached and terraced houses and cottage flats have been designed around plentiful green space at Garvel Crescent. Importantly, a selection of ground floor flats is available to residents who require a wheelchair and offer spacious and flexible living spaces.

Just around the corner, six homes are located at Blyth Road and mirror the contemporary two-storey design, comprising one terraced block accommodating four and five person households.

Construction works commenced in March 2022 and are almost complete, with all homes now allocated and the majority of residents successfully moved in. Featuring solar panels, residents will benefit from lower energy bills and maintenance costs throughout the year.

Designed by Glasgow-based MAST Architects, attendees at the official opening ceremony enjoyed a walk-through of the sites and a tour of a selection of the new home types, led by Calvay Housing Association’s chairperson, Jim Gourlay. The modern and sustainable homes all feature open-plan kitchen and living space, with plentiful natural light flooding the homes through the large windows to the front of the properties.

Members of the wider project team include consulting engineer Clyde Design Partnership, landscape architect MBLA Design Ltd, quantity surveyor and principal design services by Brown + Wallace, and clerk of works services by Smart Inspections.

The total project cost was £8.2 million, with Calvay Housing Association securing £4.6m grant funding from Glasgow City Council and Scottish Government, with the balance met via private funding from Nationwide Building Society.

Jim Gourlay, chair at Calvay Housing Association, said: “Welcoming guests to our new development represents an important milestone for Calvay Housing Association as we celebrate the completion of high-quality and energy-efficient homes for the Barlanark community.

“We are acutely aware of the declining provision of social housing across Scotland, and whilst our new development will not solve the issue alone, we are proud to help increase the number of available affordable housing units. Working collaboratively with our partners, we have arrived at a well-considered design that utilises available brownfield sites to create homes that prioritise sustainability, accessibility and green space.”

Glasgow East MP David Linden said: “This new development is a fantastic addition to the East End, bringing land back into active use and delivering more social housing to meet exceptionally high demand.

“It’s been great seeing the construction take shape and learning more about not only the energy efficient design and build, but of the economic benefit to the area through local employment and training.

“Both Calvay and Cruden can be very proud of what has been achieved here. This is as much about building a stronger community as it is building homes and I’m very pleased to see this project, backed with funding from Glasgow City Council and Scottish Government, make its mark.”

Colin Kennedy, construction director of Cruden Building, said: “Ten years on from our first development with Calvay Housing Association, we are delighted to continue our successful partnership and deliver the latest fantastic new housing developments at Garvel Crescent and Blyth Road in Barlanark. Here, we have breathed new life into previously disused land to build 43 much needed affordable, modern homes that deliver as much on quality, as they do on energy efficiency.

“During construction, Cruden Building was able to provide a range of community benefits to the local area. This included valuable apprenticeship and work placement opportunities and we are pleased to present an additional £5,000 cheque to support important local community initiatives.”