New homes built in Chryston for Caledonia.

Construction has been completed for nine brand new homes at Berryknowe Avenue in the charming village of Chryston, North Lanarkshire, all thanks to Caledonia Housing Association. Built by the renowned Morris & Spottiswood, this impressive £2.1 million development, with £1.3 million in Scottish Government funding, comprises of an accessible bungalow and eight two-storey houses. These new homes aim to address the urgent need for high-quality, affordable housing in the area.

The momentous handover ceremony was graced by key figures such as Julie Cosgrove, the chief executive of Caledonia Housing Association, Brian Pettigrew, the housing sector director at Morris & Spottiswood, and Stephen Llewellyn, the chief officer for housing at North Lanarkshire Council. The event’s highlight was welcoming the first tenant, Sean Drew, as the guest of honour at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Expressing her excitement, Julie Cosgrove, the chief executive of Caledonia Housing Association, remarked, “We are delighted to have taken possession of this stunning new development. Berryknowe Avenue marks Caledonia’s debut project in North Lanarkshire, delivering new, energy-efficient homes of superior quality. In addition to the new homes, we have improved the road junction, created a bend, and added a new footpath leading to nearby Cumbernauld Road. I eagerly anticipate our new residents moving into their abodes starting from 9 September.”

Stephanie Drew, Sean’s mother, shared her heartfelt sentiments, stating, “Sean currently resides in our converted garage with his essential wheelchair, hospital bed, and recliner, which his caregivers must navigate around 24 hours a day. The transition to his new home will be truly transformative for Sean and our entire family, allowing us to be parents rather than just caregivers.”

Stephen Llewellyn, the housing chief officer at North Lanarkshire Council, voiced his satisfaction, saying, “We are overjoyed to witness the completion of these new homes in Chryston, providing much-needed rental properties for the local community. Aligned with our ambitious goal of delivering 5,000 new council homes by 2035, we are proud to collaborate with our housing association partners to offer additional high-quality, energy-efficient homes to our residents.”

Brian Pettigrew, the housing sector director at Morris & Spottiswood, added, “We are thrilled to have delivered these essential, energy-efficient, and visually stunning homes to the residents of Chryston. This partnership with Caledonia Housing Association marks our inaugural project together, and we eagerly anticipate expanding this collaboration and exploring future opportunities.”