Dundee City Council has commissioned a number of “affordable” housing projects in recent years as it strives to meet its targets for building.
Many are expected to be ready next year after delays due to Covid – and that could see some of the 7,000 households currently on the housing waiting list move in to the new properties.
The local authority has a target of building or commissioning 150 affordable homes per year but has missed this in each of the last seven years.
Here we take a look at some of those in construction including how many homes are planned, what stage they are at, and what type of houses will be available.
They are all defined as “affordable” and are being built through housing associations, which receive large amounts of funding from the Scottish Government.
Some are available for “mid market rent” meaning they are only available to individuals or households on “low/modest gross incomes”.
Others are described as for “social rent” and may only be available to those with specific needs.
Check out the map below to see where the affordable housing projects in Dundee are and for more information, continue reading.
1. Derby Street
A total of 163 homes are being built on Derby Street in the Hilltown, costing at least £26 million. Those successful in applying for a home at the development have complained of long delays to moving in.
Just under half will be Hillcrest-operated with 58 for social rent and 22 for mid market rent.
Work began in April 2018 and the latest completion date has been billed as in “the near future”.
The latest council documents state many should be finished in 2023.
It is a partnership between the council, Hillcrest and Robertson Partnership Homes.
2. Seagate
All 28 Hillcrest flats being built at the corner of the Seagate and Trades Lane in the city centre are for mid market rent.
There have been significant delays to the £3.5 million eight-storey project, including periods when little to no building work was being carried out.
Work started in November 2018 and the latest completion date is estimated to be August 2023.
3. South Victoria Dock Road
Hillcrest and Culross are building 119 homes at City Quay on a former car park site.
Of these, 66 for mid market rent will be finished in the coming months and are expected to be ready for tenants in early 2023.
They are all one and two-bedroom apartments.
Work has now started on the second block of 53 flats for social rent but this likely won’t be finished until 2025.
4. Ellengowan Drive
130 Hillcrest homes are being built at a minimum cost of £20.5 million on Ellengowan Drive near the south entrance to Baxter Park.
They include a mix of amenity housing for elderly residents, mainstream and wheelchair flats, cottage flats and family terraced houses.
Half will be for mid-market rent and the other half will be for social rent.
Work started just as the first Covid lockdown was introduced, causing delays, but the first phase (70 homes) will be finished by spring 2023.
The remaining 60 likely won’t be finished until mid-2025.
5. Candle Lane
The Candle Lane development will see 24 flats for social rent completed on a former car park site between the Seagate and Dock Street.
It’s hoped the flats, being built by Hillcrest and Murrayfield Properties, will be completed in 2023.
6. Pitkerro Road
Home Group and Cruden Homes are building 32 homes just off Pitkerro Road near the former site of Longhaugh Neighbourhood Centre, which was demolished in 2011.
They will be for social rent and contain a mix of larger family semi-detached housing with smaller terraced accommodation and two-storey cottage flats, including wheelchair units
The site sits next to some shops including an Iceland store.
It’s hoped they will be completed in 2023.
7. Langland’s Street
A total of 16 properties for social rent are being built by Hillcrest at Langland’s Street, just off Dura Street. The flats are close to completion and are expected to be ready in 2023.
They comprise of eight two-bedroom flats and eight supported accommodation flats, also with two bedrooms.
8. Ballindean Court
Caledonia Housing Association is building 67 properties at an empty site in Douglas just off Ballindean Road.
Preparation work is only just beginning so the homes won’t be completed any time soon.
They will comprise of 43 houses and 24 flats.
Forty nine properties will be made available for social rent while 18 will be for shared equity sale – which is when a buyer is given a loan towards their deposit.
9. Former Rosebank Primary School
A total of 30 flats for social rent are being built at the former Rosebank Primary School site, affectionately known by generations of pupils as “The Rosie”.
There will also be an additional 10 flats put up for private sale.
Work at the Rosebank Road/Weaver’s Loan site could be completed by 2023 with the development being managed by Caledonia Housing Association alongside Discovery Homes.
10. Coldside Road
A total of 30 new homes will be made available for social rent at Coldside Road, between Strathmartine Road and Hospital Street.
Five of the flats will be available for supported living where the accommodation includes onsite support for residents.
It’s hoped they will be completed in 2023.
What other affordable housing projects in Dundee are there?
A number of other housing association projects have been completed recently, including Abertay Housing Association’s 43 affordable homes at the former site of Charleston Primary.
There are also more developments in the pipeline that are either still going through the planning process or are in the early stages of construction or preparation.
One major development is a £17.5 million Charleston project where construction work started in December.
A total of 66 homes will be built and all will be assisted living properties available for social rent.
Developers say once completed they will house almost half of Dundee City Council’s total waiting list for adapted accommodation.
They will be located at six separate sites at Liff Place, Gourdie Place, Gourdie Crescent, Charleston Road, Invercraig Road and Buttar’s Road.
Specialising housing association Blackwood Homes & Care is partnering with Campion Homes to provide the properties.
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