THE SITE OF a new £6million affordable housing development in Elgin being created through a partnership agreement received several VIP visitors this week.
A group of dignitaries were given a tour of the site for a project that has been created through a partnership between Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association, Moray Council, the Scottish Government and Health and Social Care Moray.
Councillor Lorna Creswell, Chair of Health and Social Care Moray, was shown the progress of the new development at Glassgreen, just off Thornhill Road, with Councillor James Allan as well as Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association Board Member, Professor Alison Petch and Hanover Chief Executive, Helen Murdoch.
Working closely together, Hanover Scotland, Moray Council and Health and Social Care Moray identified the need for a new model of housing in the area that has the flexibility to provide extra care with both dementia and wheelchair specific flats.
The Glassgreen development is the second in the area to use this model, with the first one nearing completion at Leask Road, Forres. Every flat is designed for flexible use and to maximise the use of space, is well insulated, and even features an air source heat pump to reduce heating costs.
In total, the development will consist of 30 two-bedroom flats and is estimated to be completed at the end of July 2017. There will be four wheelchair accessible flats, six flats specifically designed for people with dementia and 20 extra care flats in a single building.
It will incorporate a communal Hub which contains a reception area, common room, office/meeting room, toilets and kitchen/café area on the ground floor, as well as a sleepover suite and toilets on the first floor.
Work began on the site at Glassgreen in late March 2016 and is just one of three sites Hanover is currently working on in Moray with other locations at Leask Road, Forres and Haugh Road, Elgin.
After the visit, Councillor Creswell said: “The new Hanover complex in Forres is almost complete and ready to accept residents. I was delighted to see further modern housing for those with care needs being built in Elgin. I’m keen to see them established and ready for people to move in next summer.”
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