First tenants move in to new 69 home development in Galashiels

The first tenants have moved in to a new affordable housing development in Galashiels.

Eildon has built 69 homes for rent at Coopersknowe, on land left derelict for more than a decade after a private developer went bust.

It's the housing association's biggest single development to date.

As well as creating jobs and regenerating the area, it's hoped the construction of one, two and three-bedroomed properties at McQueen Gardens will help address the acute housing need in the region.

Eildon's chief executive, Nile Istephan, told Greatest Hits Radio: "This was one of the sites that was really the victim of the first property market crash, and we picked it up after that, so it's been a long time in the planning. It's quite a complex site, but it's got a good mix of different types of properties.

"And 69 homes puts a decent dent in the need for affordable housing, but there's still plenty more people that want these homes than unfortunately we're able to provide."

The housing association, which worked with Cruden Building on the project, revealed it received an average of 45 applications for EACH property in the multi-million pound development, which includes a mix of family homes, flats and bungalows - six of which are fully wheelchair accessible.

All the properties - which include a number of homes reserved for key workers - have already been allocated.

But locals were invited on a tour of the site during an open event earlier this afternoon (Friday).

Mr Istephan said: "The properties are super-insulated so they should be very economical to live in.

"They also have solar panels on the roof which generate electricity. We know that the cost of fuel is a big issue, and it's not going away sadly, so anything that can help with that is a positive thing."

And he added: "The street is designed to slow down traffic; we've got a play park on site; and it already feels like it fits in really well. So, as people move in and these become people's homes, rather than just properties, we're hoping there's a nice wee community gets created here."

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