Maisonettes

THE FUTURE OF OUR MAISONETTE BLOCKS

29th November 2006 -- Back in 2002, ANCHO commissioned a consultant to look at the best option for our maisonette stock.  The consultant’s report concluded that the best option financially and the option preferred by residents was demolition and new-build housing.  However, our request to Communities Scotland for funding was unsuccessful at that time, and instead, we put into place a five-year programme of refurbishment (now currently in Phase 2).  Since then, we have continued to seek funding to deliver the best and preferred option of demolition and new-build housing.

Earlier this month, Communities Scotland agreed, in principle, to consider our request for funding.  Accordingly, the intention is to demolish the three un-refurbished blocks (a total of 64 properties):

-          17 to 55 Redburn Place

-          13 to 34 Redburn Place/27 to 45 Sophia Crescent

-          16 to 58 Sophia Crescent

and build new housing in their place, with the project hopefully starting in 2009.

All residents within these blocks have been notified, and ANCHO is keen to hear their concerns, and answer their questions, if possible.  In order to do so, ANCHO is holding an Open Forum on Thursday 7 December 2006 in the Golf Hotel, Irvine.  Residents can come along and speak, on an individual basis, to an ANCHO staff member. 

ANCHO will also be appointing a partner housing association to deliver the actual development.  Interest is being sought from all local housing associations. 

Director, Elaine Gibson said, ‘This is a significant milestone for ANCHO, and we are very keen to take this project forward, with the right partner, in a way which contributes benefits for the whole community.  In terms of planning the whole process, things are still at a very early stage, and we very keen to hear residents views about how they would like to see the area changed and improved through this redevelopment.’