Stirling reveals 8 new eco-friendly homes in St Ninians.

Tenants in St Ninians have received the keys to eight new homes following £2 million of investment in social housing by Stirling Council and the Scottish Government.

The new homes, located at the corner of Glasgow Road and Barnsdale Road, consist of a mix of one and two-bedroom main door flats. These homes were constructed by the JR Group and were designed and supported through planning and development by the council’s Housing Services Built Environment team.

Replacing a former high-rise block of council flats that were demolished in 2022, each property now features its own main door access, garden space, and parking facilities.

Stirling Council secured just under £1.2 million in grant funding from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme to build these new homes, with the remaining £800,000 coming from the council’s housing revenue account.

These homes are among the most energy-efficient in Stirling, boasting Energy Performance Ratings ranging from A to A+. Additionally, all properties have achieved a Gold Standard for Sustainability by reducing energy consumption for heating and lowering carbon dioxide emissions through the installation of a zero-emissions heating system.

Equipped with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage for PV generation, and automatic fire suppression systems, these homes are also technologically advanced. Environmental sensors have been installed to provide insights and recommendations to tenants regarding indoor conditions, as well as enabling post-construction monitoring of the properties.

Councillor Gerry McGarvey, convener of the community wellbeing and housing committee, expressed his delight at the handover of these exceptional new homes. He emphasised the importance of developing more affordable properties to address the high demand for warm, comfortable homes, with over 3,000 households on the council’s housing list.

The grant funding from the Scottish Government has been instrumental in addressing housing needs in Stirling and combating homelessness. The new homes are expected to make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of the residents.

JR Group, originally founded in Govan in 1995 and now based in Paisley, has seen significant growth over the years, employing around 200 staff across Scotland. The St Ninians development marks their first collaboration with Stirling Council.

Andrew Dallas, projects director at the JR Group, highlighted the exciting nature of the St Ninians project, not only due to the area’s much-needed regeneration but also because of the creation of highly energy-efficient homes in the city. These homes are envisioned as warm, spacious, and sustainable dwellings built for the future.

Stirling Council and JR Group are optimistic about continuing their partnership to support the increasing provision of social and affordable housing in the region, ensuring these homes become a positive asset for both residents and the council for years to come.