Work begins on ‘pioneering’ affordable housing project in Livingston

ARK Housing Association has announced the start of work on a ‘pioneering’ affordable homes development in Livingston.The £4.2 million Crusader Rise project, which will deliver 20 affordable homes for social rent, has been described as ‘one of the most energy-efficient housing developments in Scotland’, boasting a range of features designed to cut emissions and heating bills.The move represents the first phase in a five-year strategy of new-build housing projects for the Edinburgh-headquartered housing association.The development will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes including six ground floor apartments designed to wheelchair standards. With a range of thermal technologies, the homes will deliver zero direct emissions heating and also incorporate electric car charging facilities.The project is being funded by Ark and the Scottish Government, with Ark committing £2,087,410 and a grant award of £2,100,000 from the Scottish Government.JR Construction (Scotland) has been awarded the building contract.Ark’s chief executive Bobby Duffy said, “With Crusader Rise, our number one priority was to provide the highest possible quality of modern, affordable homes for social rental, while also setting new standards for energy efficiency and environmental impact. We have also built in innovative solutions to enable tenants with disabilities to live independently and we designed some of our properties to be suitable for those tenants who may require higher levels of care and support.“This development truly represents who Ark is and what we aspire to be as a high quality provider of housing and care. We are really looking forward to welcoming the first of our tenants next summer and helping them settle in to the local community in Dedridge.“Everyone deserves high-quality, affordable housing and, working in partnership with the Scottish Government and West Lothian Council, we’re excited to see the enormous difference these homes will make to householders in the years ahead.”The development marks a milestone in Ark’s new-build development programme, which will augment its current stock of 400 properties.Caryn Innes, Ark’s director of development and business improvement, added, “Crusader Rise will set a very high bar for comfort, affordability and quality of care. We are determined to build on those standards in the years ahead, making a positive difference to our customers who live in them and the communities they are part of, while contributing to the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme.“Every last detail of the project has been carefully considered, with the needs of tenants at the very heart of our thinking. We’re very confident they will make a really positive difference to people’s lives for many, many years to come.”