Families in Arden are to benefit from an ambitious £2.9 million housing boost that will deliver much needed new homes.

Glen Oaks Housing Association has launched the new development of 25 properties as it continues its transformation of the Arden estate.

The plan which will take around a year to complete was officially launched on Monday by Lord Provost Robert Winter.

He hailed the news as a great step forward for the community and praised Glen Oaks for continuing to build homes which are needed by local people.

Speaking at the launch, Lord Provost Winter said: “Glen Oaks is a very active housing association doing very good work. The regeneration in this area since I became a councillor in 1999 is nothing short of phenomenal.

“The Association not only builds quality housing but is deeply engaged in helping the local community.”

And he praised the new housing for giving a shot in the arm to the city’s construction industry.

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He added: “The construction industry has been badly hit by the recession and developments like this keep construction firms and their staff in business. This is very, very important for the city’s economy.”

The new Glen Oaks development is being undertaken by Cruden Building and Renewals Ltd.

The twenty five properties will be a mixture of flats and houses with six being offered under a shared equity scheme allowing people to get a foot on the property ladder by owning part of their home.

Glen Oaks Chairperson Bill McNamara said: “This is a great step forward for Arden. More homes are coming as Glen Oaks continue to breathe new life into Arden and support the community in every way we can. These 25 new properties will be greatly welcomed by local people and they will significantly improve the appearance of a derelict site where tenements once stood.”

The development at Kilmuir Drive/Kilmuir Crescent was made possible thanks to a Housing Association Grant from the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council of £1.6 million with the Association borrowing much of the rest.

As a community-based housing association, Glen Oaks has won huge plaudits for its work in Arden as it seeks to revitalise the community with new homes. It has also played a key role supporting organisations within the community by creating CCTV, employment training, crime reduction initiatives and providing children’s play areas.

The Association is working closely with Glasgow City Council on a significant regeneration plan for the whole of Arden. Building new homes and continuing to improve existing post war tenements is a key area of the work.

(GK)