A £1 million Angus Council project to demolish eight flats and replace them with four large family homes in Arbroath has been completed.
The end to the construction marks the completion of the local authority’s regeneration of the Demondale area of Arbroath.
A transformation of the area has taken place over the last 12 years or so, with a succession of housing renewals and environmental improvements.
The latest energy efficient homes were completed by Bancon Construction and handed over to the council earlier this month.
Angus Council said the new homes met the needs of its housing waiting list.
Housing spokesperson Councillor Lois Speed said: “It is good to see tenants settling in to their new accommodation and surroundings at Noran Avenue and to see how the regeneration programme has improved the quality of life for local residents and transformed the area into a place that people can be proud to call home.
“We want to make sure people have great places to live – that is about more than just bricks and mortar.
“It’s about providing people with a safe and stable environment to help set the foundation for better educational attainment, and training and employment opportunities.”
“It’s about helping to improve health and wellbeing, combating poverty, and helping boost the local economy through investment.”
Eight two-bedroom flats were demolished in Noran Avenue to make room for the new build homes, which include a five-bedroom house suitable for use by a family with special needs.
There is also a detached four bedroom house and two semi-detached three bedroom homes on the site.
The new homes will contribute to the target to provide over 600 new affordable properties in Angus over the next five years.
Gavin Currie, managing director of Bancon Construction, said: “We have worked closely with Angus Council on the design and build of four bespoke, energy efficient houses at Noran Avenue in Arbroath, which includes accessible properties that have been fully adapted to accommodate wheelchairs.”
The plan was brought forward in response to the needs of a family in the area with special needs and was unanimously approved by the council’s communities committee last June.
At the committee, removing the existing flats from the council’s housing stock and the expense of the project was questioned by Carnoustie councillor David Cheape.
He said: “Let me play devil’s advocate here – with the shortage of housing stock why we are removing eight properties to replace them with four at a cost of £1 million?”
At the meeting communities director Alan McKeown replied: “Whilst all of our properties are in good condition and meet the quality standards not all of them are very popular. We have to listen to our customers.
“I’m proud to say the housing we are to build in Noran Avenue and other parts of Angus are of the highest quality.”
