£40m redevelopment of Bellsmyre to be delivered in smaller phases after funding cut

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A £40million plan to transform Bellsmyre will be delivered in smaller phases after a Scottish Government funding cut, developers have announced.Earlier this year we told how Caledonia Housing Association’s (CHA) proposals for 140 new eco-friendly homes stalled after Holyrood cash for the project was slashed as part of cuts, leaving residents in limbo.The move comes amid a crisis in the affordable rented housing sector with 6,000 people in West Dunbartonshire waiting for homes.Following a review of the project, Caledonia Housing Association last week provided tenants and impacted factored owners with an update on the revised plans.The new proposal aims to deliver an increased number of smaller phases over an extended period with the first phase consisting of 27 new homes to be built at Whiteford Avenue.The housing mix within the revised proposal has been amended to primarily meet the needs of those tenants currently living in temporary homes and those in future demolition phases.A revised plan is being finalised and is due to be submitted to West Dunbartonshire Council in July.Original plans included the construction of 140 new, affordable, two-storey homes (now 138 homes) to replace 225 flats.Julie Cosgrove, Chief Executive, Caledonia Housing Association, said: “The project team has been working at pace to review and create a new proposal to advance the next phase of the Bellsmyre regeneration programme.

Our goal at Caledonia is to ensure that we continue to contribute to increasing the supply of quality, affordable housing across Scotland.“We have continued to engage with our tenants and the community in Bellsmyre to keep them updated on our progress and we hope to receive a positive response from West Dunbartonshire