Work starts on 800 new homes as part of £250m development

Building work on a transformational development that will bring over 800 new homes to the north of Glasgow is under way.

The NorthBridge development in Sighthill will see 824 homes built as part of a £250m project that is the biggest in the UK outside of London.

When completed it will feature a mix of exclusively designed two, three, four and five-bedroom houses and one and two bedroom apartments, to be delivered by Keepmoat Homes in partnership with Glasgow Housing Association.

The scheme, part of the Sighthill Transformational Regeneration Area, was officially launched by council leader Susan Aitken and communities secretary Aileen Campbell who were joined by managing director of Keepmoat Homes, Beth McNeil, and GHA chair Bernadette Hewitt at the site on Tuesday.

The housing association’s sister group Lowther Homes will manage the 198 homes for mid-market rent.

Sighthill: How the new development could look.

The council say that once the 50 hectares plus Sighthill TRA is complete, an enhanced neighbourhood, immediately beside the city centre and just 15 minutes’ walk from George Square, will have been created for existing members of the local community and for the residents of the new development, with almost 1000 new homes of various tenures.

The regenerated area will also include a recently-opened community campus school, and a new road bridge over the Glasgow-Edinburgh railway line now improves the connections between Sighthill and neighbouring communities.

Work will shortly begin on a landmark new pedestrian and cyclist bridge connecting Sighthill to the city centre.

And a new public square, hops and businesses will come to Sighthill, and the area will be reconnected to the Forth and Clyde canal at the Pinkston basin, with a canal terrace.

In addition to the new homes, Keepmoat has made long-term commitments to benefit the surrounding community including training, employment and engagement programmes to be delivered throughout the lifetime of the project.

Sighthill: Building work began on Wednesday.

Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “This is another important step in the delivery of the £250m Sighthill Transformational Regeneration Area, with these new homes set to attract people to a new neighbourhood located close to the city centre.

“Alongside the huge range of regeneration activity taking place on and beside Glasgow’s Canal, and with new neighbourhoods and housing to come in areas such as Cowlairs, Dundashill, Hamiltonhill and Ruchill, the future is bright for those living and wanting to live and invest in North Glasgow.”

Communities secretary Aileen Campbell said: “This development is an exceptional example of what can be achieved when Scottish and local government, partners and the local community work together to deliver real transformation.

“As well as creating new jobs and training opportunities, Sighthill will promote integrated community living in the city and deliver high-quality homes, including 198 affordable homes funded by almost £10 million from the Scottish Government. ”

Beth McNeil, regional managing director of Keepmoat Homes commented, “We are very excited to be starting work on the NorthBridge development, which we believe firmly is a once-in-a-generation project which will transform the area.”

Bernadette Hewitt, GHA chair, said: “Tenants are already enjoying living in the smart, new energy-efficient homes built as part of the first phase of Sighthill’s transformation.”