First phase of £5million improvement programme for Priesthill homes completed

Work on the first phase of a £5.12million improvement programme for almost 200 homes in Priesthill that began in January and is part-funded by Glasgow City Council has now been completed.

The homes, known locally as the Barratt Circle, had led to concerns being raised by residents and elected members about the condition of the properties, the high incidence of private lets and associated issues such as anti-social behaviour, and the council was asked to intervene.

The properties - mostly former council inter-war stock at Glenmuir Drive, Househillmuir Road, Linnhead Drive and Ravenscraig Drive - were refurbished by Barratt in the 1980s and marketed for low cost home ownership suitable for first time buyers.

A number of issues, including owners not paying for factoring services, has led to varying levels of disrepair and around 25 of the current homes lying vacant.

Council officers working in partnership with Rosehill Housing Co-operative liaised with local residents as they sought to find a solution to these issues.  It was then agreed that a programme to consider how the properties could be maintained / factored after improvement works and how the problem of vacant properties and poor landlord practice could be addressed.

Programme of works

The improvements work programme will address the issues identified in three phases (the first now completed by the appointed contractor Everwarm):

•    Phase 1 - External Wall Insulation and common fabric repairs including roof, gutters, downpipes, common close doors and windows, clearing roof spaces etc.
•    Phase 2 - Close security including door entry systems, close lighting and close decoration works.
•    Phase 3 - Environmental works - back gardens, common areas, and refuse collection facilities and external security lighting etc.

It is expected that Rosehill Housing Co-operative will become factor for the properties, and the imbalance of tenure (too high a proportion of private landlords) will be addressed through the council's acquisitions strategy, which will focus on empty properties and problematic private lets.

First Phase

Councillor Kenny McLean, City Convenor for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Public Realm at Glasgow City Council, said: "I am delighted to see that the first phase of work to regenerate the Barratt Circle in Priesthill has been completed.  The council, the residents and our partners have been working hard on this project, which will have a huge impact on not only these homes but the whole area.  We can now look forward to the completion of the project."

Geri Mogan, Depute Director at Rosehill Housing Co-operative said: "We are delighted to be able to assist the council and local residents to improve the Barratt Flats.  The look of the area has already been transformed with more works to come.  We are already working on the next phase of these and we will be in touch with residents soon to discuss things, and finalise matters ready for going out to tender."

The £5.12million funding for the first two phases of this work, which is expected to be finished in 2018, comes from a number of sources: Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Government, owners and Rosehill Housing Co-operative.

The council will consult with the owners on the third phase - environmental works - once work on the second phase is underway.