AyrshireHousing

Ayrshire Housing received the award for its Corton Howe, Doonholm, Ayr development at a ceremony in Glasgow’s Lighthouse architectural centre this evening.

Pearl Boyd, Ayrshire Housing’s vice-chair, was delighted to be handed the specially forged plaque by Stewart Maxwell, Scotland’s Minister for Communities and Sport. Having launched Ayrshire Housing’s Lochside development the week before, Mr Maxwell was delighted to meet Pearl again.

Pearl said “as a tenant member of Ayrshire Housing, I am delighted with this recognition of the quality of our housing”.

The development is of 20 semi-detached houses which are linked by high walls to give a sense of enclosure to a suburban cul-de-sac. It was designed by Dr Roan Rutherford of Austin-Smith:Lord and built by Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd. This is the second development by Ayrshire Housing to win a Saltire award. In 2003, the society gave a plaque to a development also by Roan Rutherford at Earl’s Rise, Dundonald. We have also since then received two commendations and two special mentions for other projects.

Established in 1937, the Saltire Housing Design Awards are Scotland’s premier marker to excellence in housing design and layout.

The other two awards presented by Mr Maxwell also went to housing associations - New Gorbals Housing Association, and Locharber and Skye Housing Association. Fyne Homes and Berwickshire Housing Associations picked up a commendation and a special mention respectively.

Architect - Austin-Smith:Lord LLP

Contractor - to be appointed

Expected completion 2010

Development Units:

• 4 No 4 apartment, 6 person houses
• 9 No 3 apartment, 4 person houses

This is a development of 13 new build units in a mix of 4 No. 6 person 3 bedroom houses and 9 No. 4 person 2 bedroom houses. The architect is the award winning practice of Austin-Smith:Lord, the engineer is Scott Bennett Associates and the quantity surveyor is Poole Dick Associates. The site has been acquired through the affordable housing policy of South Ayrshire Council and is part of a larger development carried out by Lauderdale Homes. The architect has utilised astute design to deal efficiently with the difficult topography of the site and to create an attractive and interesting street frontage whilst maximising the potential of the striking views to the south. 

This morning, Stewart Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport, officially launched Ayrshire Housing’s 100 house regeneration project in Lochside, Ayr. This is the key element of a joint project with South Ayrshire Council to replace 131 unpopular houses and to provide the catalyst for extensive modernisation works across Lochside.  25 of the new houses will be for sale on a shared equity basis.

Each of the returning tenants has been given a real say in the design of their houses through one to one consultations with the architect, Gordon Fleming of ARP Lorimer and Associates.

Work is expected to be complete by the beginning of 2010 on what  is Ayrshire Housing’s largest development to date.

Alongside the physical regeneration, the Lochside People and Place Initiative managed by Ayrshire Initiatives is working with residents from across Lochside on a wide range of community, environmental and training projects. Highlights to date include the screening of a film produced by a local young people, a photography project which is recording the changing face of the area and a series of placemaking events.

Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said: “I am delighted to be here today to celebrate the site start of the regeneration at Lochside. This ambitious project will make a real difference to the lives of those who live here and will help create a community that people can be proud of. Progressing this development has only been made possible thanks to co-operation between local residents, South Ayrshire Council, Ayrshire Housing and the Scottish Government.”

He was joined by Councillor Hugh Hunter, the Leader of South Ayrshire Council who said:  “The regeneration of Lochside has been a dream and a vision for the Council and local people for many years, it is now a reality.  This project, involving many organisations, clearly demonstrates that great things can be achieved with teamwork.  We have all worked together to provide the best possible homes and environment for the people who will be living here both now and in the future.  Every step of the way local people have been consulted and their input has been invaluable.”

Mr Maxwell was delighted to meet 2 apprentices from the scheme’s builders Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd whose training has been facilitated through the Access Construction Ayrshire project. This project  has been made possible by Wider Role funding from the Scottish Government. The two apprentice bricklayers - Mr Jake Callan and Mr Calum Park (to front in photo) were taken on through this initiative in August 2008 as a result of the on-going work undertaken by Ashleigh (Scotland) for Ayrshire Housing. They are currently enrolled in their first year of a modern apprenticeship with Ayr College.

The regeneration area covers blocks in Gould, Mackie and McLean Streets. 25 of the new dwellings will be sold through the Scottish Government’s shared equity scheme. Demolition work took place at the end of 2007 with the main building works starting in summer 2008.

In November 2005, South Ayrshire Council decided to implement a phased programme of demolition and replacement of the housing stock in the area. Following further public consultation, a larger demolition scheme comprising 132 properties rather than the 60 properties originally envisaged was agreed to. This enabled a more coherent strategy with regard to the least popular house-types.

The project will transform the area into a series of “home zones”. Every house will have its own private gardens and car parking. Their design ensures that a range of house needs can be accommodated including a small number of dedicated wheelchair houses.

The total cost of the project is £13 millions and is supported by Scottish Government grants of just over £8 millions by way of Housing Association Grant and the former Housing Estates Regeneration Fund.

A complementary programme of modernisation and environmental improvements is about to commence in the neighbouring South Ayrshire Council owned stock to the value of £2.5 millions.

See previous post with plans.

Since 2002, we have been working with the Roman Catholic Church as it considered options for the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Dalmilling, Ayr. As part of this process, we organised an architectural ideas competition.

Last year, the Church came to decision to transfer the Bishop’s cathedra from the Good Shepherd parish to St Margaret’s in Wallacetown, Ayr. Since then we have agreed to work with the Church to redevelop the former cathedral for affordable rented housing in a manner which respects the heritage of this grade C listed building.

Following a public consultation event on 24 July, we have now with the Church’s support lodged a planning application for the erection of 23 one, two and three bedroomed houses and flats. The proposals by Gordon Fleming of ARP Lorimer build on the architectural concept which won him the 2002 competition. They are all designed with maximum flexibility in mind in catering for varied and changing needs.

We are also pleased to have worked with Scottish Churches Housing Action in the development of our proposal.

It is hoped that construction will start in the New Year.

The current proposal subject to a Planning application

In 2002, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Galloway  approached South Ayrshire Council regarding future options for the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Ayr.  The Cathedral exceeded the requirements of its congregation and would shortly require the costly replacement of its roof. An option for the Bishop was to re-locate the Cathedral whilst possibly maintaining a more modest place of worship at Dalmilling Crescent. He was interested in exploring the opportunities to develop generally the site for socially beneficial purposes.  Given its proximity to the John Pollock Centre, a large-scale general community facility did not appear to be an obvious possibility. Hence the approach to  Carrick Housing Association (one of Ayrshire Housing’s predecessors) to consider the opportunities for incorporating affordable rented housing on the site.

Any proposals for change were likely to raise issues for both the congregation and the community at large. Carrick considered that the sensitivity and complexity of the site provided an opportunity to engage actively with the community in resolving the issue of the site’s long-term future.

A limited (ie by invitation) architectural competition to produce design options within a broad but deliverable framework was the chosen approach . In order to keep the process both manageable and accessible to a lay audience, three firms were invited to submit ideas with the benefit of an honorarium each.

Community involvement was sought in number of ways. Firstly, ·through liaison with the North Ayr Social Inclusion Partnership, its Community Forum and paper North Ayr Compass. Secondly, community representatives joined the  the competition assessment panel which met in 4 July 2002.

Whilst this was very much an ideas competition, Carrick still sought proposals which were capable of being built under the Communities Scotland’s cost yardsticks. On the one hand, this could militate against innovation in terms of space or building systems; on the other, it allowed the potential (and limitations) to “add value” to current housing association production to be addressed clearly.

Keanu who takes great pleasure in organising this annual event is pleased to announce that this year’s joint winners are:

• Ben, a German Shepherd who lives in Dundonald. Ben is just getting over the tragic loss of his brother so hopefully this award will bring some cheer.
• Orbit, a fellow feline who lives in Maybole. Given that today is the 51st anniversary of Sputnik1’s own orbit, his name hits the spot!

We have only space to show a few of the commended entrants unfortunately but the exotically named D’Fir and his fellow Ballantrae residents Shug and Striper are pleased to be showcased here.

Details of last year’s competition.