The first physical step towards the provision of new council housing in Northfield has been taken with the demolition of the former Byron Park nursery/infant school.

The demolition of the old school site, which was built circa 1956 and officially opened on 26 August, 1957, is the second step in Aberdeen City Council's programme of building the first new general-needs council homes in Aberdeen for over a generation.

The programme began with the demolition of a block of derelict tenement flats in Tillydrone's Hayton Road in April. It is anticipated that the first tenants will move into the homes there around the summer of 2011.

Byron Park will be developed as a Homezone scheme with a courtyard layout to encourage social interaction and create sheltered, useable external spaces.

The concept of a Homezone is to change the way that streets are used and to improve quality of life, by making them places for people, not just traffic, so that the needs of car drivers are secondary to the needs of users of the street.

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A Homezone is essentially a combination of elements which work to limit the volume and/or speed of traffic while creating play, resting and gathering places.

In line with Aberdeen City Council's Local Plan, one third of the site will be retained as public amenity space which creates a buffer between the new development and the existing Westpark School.

Twenty-eight homes will be built on the site. They will consist of a mixture of home types and sizes, including three and four bedroom family properties. Car parking spaces will be provided within the Homezone, with 15 additional spaces for visitors.

The properties at Byron Park will be environmentally sustainable, quality homes.

Housing and Environment convener Councillor Aileen Malone said: "I am delighted that the new build project has reached this stage, which will see a new community built on a redundant site in the heart of Northfield.

"I'm sure that all those who are waiting for affordable rented homes will be as excited as I am at the prospect of the development of good new social housing. The Homezone concept is the first of its kind in Aberdeen and will be a great boon to many families who are waiting for affordable rented housing in the city. It promises to provide the foundations for a really strong, safe community.

"The city is in real need of good, new homes and I am delighted that this council is working hard to address this need. I look forward to welcoming the first families into these new properties when completed."

This development marks the first phase of an £11.5m programme to create new council homes across the city. It is being funded by the housing revenue account, as well as by Kick Start grants from the Scottish government.

The New Build Programme is now at the tender stage and is on target for appointed contractor(s) to start on site in March 2010.

(GK/KMcA)