Work set to begin on new housng at former school site

An artist's impression of the new Lairdsland development

The development will include social rented and shared equity apartments as well as amenity housing for older people.

Designed by Coltart Earley Architecture, the new development - which is part of the Kirkintilloch Town Centre Masterplan - will provide 38 homes with a mixture of two, three and four-storey buildings containing one and two-bedroomed flats.

It will be constructed by Cruden Building and is due to be completed by Spring 2023.

Operations director Gordon Lee said: “As with all our developments, we will work closely with the council to bring a number of social and economic benefits to the wider East Dunbartonshire community.

"This includes providing jobs, work placements and training opportunities for people within the local area.”

Joint Council leader, Councillor Andrew Polson, said: “I am delighted to see work getting underway at this site."This site forms part of the council’s affordable housing investment programme which is helping to meet the needs of local people who are finding it increasingly difficult to get on the housing ladder."

Demolition of the existing building will start on site next month, and is anticipated to be completed by the summer.

A perimeter fence will be erected around the site and a small section of the footway on Kerr Street and Queen Street will be closed for the duration of the works.

Joint Council leader, Councillor Vaughan Moody, added: "We understand a project of this nature has the potential to cause disruption but every measure will be taken to minimise any inconvenience during this period and to ensure the public's safety .

"These properties will be fantastic homes for the people who live there and bring new life to this vacant site.”

Elements from the existing school building will be integrated into the new homes and other items will be salvaged and passed on to the Museum Service for a future display."

Site works will include the widening of existing roads, provision for new parking, footpaths, soft and hard landscaping and a new landscaped courtyard.