The final phase of the £40 million regeneration of a much-maligned Perth housing scheme has been lodged with the council.
As previously revealed in The Courier, tenders are to be issued to prospective developers for phase six of Muirton Park which will see around 200 homes built in a move described yesterday as “another milestone”.
A report drawn up by John Walker, executive director of housing and community care with Perth and Kinross Council, provides details of how the local authority is recommending the sale of land to Caledonia Housing Association.
This would lead to a mixed development of around 57 social rented homes, 65 low-cost houses and 80 privately-owned properties.
Phases one to four of the Muirton regeneration programme have been completed and Fairfield Housing Co-operative is in the process of finishing phase five, which involves the building of 25 houses at a cost of around £3m.
The majority of the funding for this phase was provided by the Scottish Government.
Muirton was previously associated with anti-social behaviour and several streets were renamed in a bid to remove this stigma.
Old street names such as Ainslie Gardens were replaced by the likes of Kestrel Way and Lark Avenue.
The new development which saw phase one completed back in 2007 is called Muirton Park, named after St Johnstone FC’s former football ground, which had been located on the expansive site.
Yesterday Grant Ager, chief executive of Fairfield Housing Co-operative one of the partners involved in the Muirton regeneration said the project had made a big difference to the area.
“This final stage is another milestone it will be 10 years since the project began,” he said.
“Anti-social behaviour in Muirton is minimal now and the housing indicators are tremendous the turnover in homes is very little.
“Fairfield is involved in phase five with the building of 25 units. Muirton is now well served by facilities.”
The council paper on the final stage of Muirton Park will be discussed by Perth and Kinross Council’s housing and health committee on Wednesday.