Homebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel has been awarded two major contracts, marking its move into new markets – social housing and external contracting.

The firm will build 22 affordable 1-2 bedroom apartments for Dunedin Canmore Housing Association on a site at Lochrin Basin in Edinburgh and will also start work soon on six semi-detached bungalows at Erskine Hospital in Renfrewshire for Erskine Development Limited.

The Lochrin Basin properties have been designed in partnership with Dunedin Canmore Housing Association and will be housed in two 3-4 storey blocks. The blocks are being finished in a mix of contemporary materials including masonry, glazing and zinc which have been procured locally.

Work will start in the summer creating local employment and on completion, residents will have access to a landscape courtyard, car parking and bike storage.

-- Advertisement --

The total turnover for the projects will be £3m and Ed Monaghan, managing director of Mactaggart & Mickel, said: "It's no secret that the market has thrown up many challenges for homebuilders over the past few months, which is why this diversification is such good news for Mactaggart & Mickel.

"We have worked hard to secure these major contracts and it’s a welcome boost to the dedication of our staff that we are able to announce our first venture into social housing – the first of many such projects in the pipeline.

"We are committed to working with registered social landlords and others to create new affordable housing communities. We would like to continue this new partnership with Dunedin Canmore Housing Association in developing our existing Edinburgh land holdings to deliver the city’s much needed affordable housing provision."

Mactaggart & Mickel’s contracting arm features the company’s "one-stop-shop" approach with its Timber Systems build, which can put up a wind and watertight frame in one day, using Mactaggart & Mickel’s award-winning building skills. This is available both for developers and individual self-build projects.

Mactaggart & Mickel is part of the City Legacy Consortium which has been shortlisted to build the athletes’ village for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

(GK/KMcA)