Explosive end for town towers

Housing provider Sanctuary Cumbernauld has taken a crucial first step forward in its £75 million scheme to demolish and replace the town’s 12 high-rise towers.

The first of four brand new blocks of 24 homes in Seafar’s Newlands Place, Seafar, has newly been handed over to residents.

These 96 flats are being built primarily to rehouse residents in three Allanfauld Road towers that are set to be demolished next year.

It will be one of the most conspicuous developments in Cumbernauld housing in recent years.

The £10.4 million Newlands Place development complements Sanctuary’s Fleming Road flats, which in 2012 housed the first 31 families to leave Allanfauld Road.

Residents still to move from Allanfauld Road’s high-rises will be rehoused before Christmas.

Roddy Macdonald, Sanctuary’s head of development – Scotland, said: “The handover of the first block in Newlands Place is a significant milestone in our regeneration of Cumbernauld’s high-rise blocks.

“The initial feedback from residents is very positive and is testament to the quality of the job done by our contractor Ogilvie Construction.

“The completion of the remaining three blocks at Newlands Place will allow us to empty the old Allanfauld Road high-rises, and arrange for their demolition next year.”