Caledonia Housing Association has been given planning permission to build the first phase of its £30 million regeneration of the Bellsmyre area of Dumbarton.
The project will begin with the construction of 66 affordable homes - 44 two and three bedroom houses, and 22 one and two bedroom flats - at Muir Road.
Caledonia also plans to merge with Bellsmyre Housing Association in order to transform the estate after a survey of residents found 97% were in favour. The management boards are expected to formalise the move in September.
Two three-storey blocks of flats will be constructed at the southern end of Muir Road and two blocks of two-storey cottage flats further north. Two storey houses will occupy the rest of the development to the north of the site.
Areas of open space are included in the plan which has been approved by West Dunbartonshire Council. It includes children’s natural play equipment, benches and landscaping. A mix of covered and secure storage cycle storage will be provided for residents of the flats.
Caledonia Housing Association will confirm the contractor in September and work is expected to start in spring 2021.
Julie Cosgrove, chief executive of Caledonia Housing Association said: “This is very welcome news and means we can press ahead with our plans to transform Bellsmyre.
"We have been working closely with tenants and residents to gain their support for our plans for the regeneration of their community. The redevelopment will provide a range of quality affordable housing to the area to help transform the area.”
Future phases of the redevelopment of Bellsmyre will include affordable, two-storey homes to replace 225 traditional flats. Three-storey tenements will be demolished and replaced mainly with front/back door houses, each with its own garden.
