Regular readers of REVITALIZATION know that the largest urban regeneration in the United Kingdom (UK) outside of London is the £250 million Sighthill project in Glasgow, Scotland. Its earlier stages were reported here, and here.
Now, on March 29, 2018, the Glasgow City Council has signed an agreement with Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) and Keepmoat Homes to deliver over 800 new homes at the Sighthill Transformational Regeneration Area (TRA) in the city.
Councillor Kenny McLean, City Convener for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Public Realm at Glasgow City Council, said “The signing of this agreement between Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Housing Association and Keepmoat Homes is another milestone in the regeneration of Sighthill. The transformation of the area will serve as an example of what can be done in urban regeneration, with the creation of a fantastic neighbourhood immediately beside the city centre. We can now anticipate this work starting and being able to watch the skyline of both Sighthill and Glasgow change over the years. I look forward to working with all our partners on the Sighthill TRA on this exciting project for Glasgow.”
This latest sub-project at the Sighthill TRA will feature 826 new homes (628 for sale, 198 for mid-market rent), plus retail units and a commercial development over the next decade.
The new mid-market rent homes will be built by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) and let and managed by GHA’s partners in Wheatley Group, Lowther Homes, with the private homes, retail unit and commercial development being delivered through a development agreement between Keepmoat Homes and Glasgow City Council.
GHA Chair Bernadette Hewitt added, “This is a monumental milestone in the transformation of Sighthill. GHA is really proud to be a partner in this transformation and as part of this next phase we’re building almost 200 homes for mid-market rent. The first phase of regeneration saw 141 new GHA homes for social rent built in 2015. Tenants in these high-quality, spacious modern homes are already saving money on their bills and enjoying a better quality of life as a result. It’s a really exciting time for the area.”
When complete, the regeneration of Sighthill will deliver almost 1000 (141 new GHA homes are already built and occupied) new high-quality homes for sale and rent; a new community school campus; a new footbridge across the M8 connecting Sighthill to the neighboring city centre; a new road bridge across the railway to link Sighthill and Port Dundas; as well as improved parkland throughout the entire area and active travel routes to and from the city centre.
James Thomson, CEO of Keepmoat Homes, concluded “Sighthill is a flagship development for Keepmoat Homes. We are delighted to have been chosen to work with Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Housing Association on this exciting regeneration programme and we will employ the greatest effort and care to ensure that the ambition of Transforming Communities: Glasgow is fulfilled and, as such, create an exciting, rich and desirable place to live, work and play. The development of Sighthill has the potential to further contribute to the city’s success story with a new, sustainable community, close to the city centre and unrecognisable from its current landscape. We are committed to delivering wider community benefits as part of the programme which will include the creation of apprenticeships and jobs in the area and work with local community projects.”
The regeneration of Sighthill is being delivered by Transforming Communities: Glasgow, a partnership between Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Housing Association and the Scottish Government, with additional funding from the Glasgow City Region City Deal.