Keith Brown MSP, cabinet secretary for infrastructure, investment and cities and local Councillor Douglas Balsillie visited a Marshall Construction site in Alva last week to discuss and observe the early site activity of the first ever Gold standard social housing volumetric pod development in Scotland.
Marshall Construction was awarded the contract by Tigh Grain Ltd circa £1.9 million to expedite all ground work/foundations to receive pre-fitted volumetric pods, together with the external enveloping of the pods to create 48no. Units with associated site and road works at Queen Street, Alva. Works commenced in February and are due to be completed December 2016.
The 48 houses, built to the Scottish Building Standards Gold Level, for Link and Paragon Housing Associations, designed by Architects Machin Dunn & MacFarlane and volumetric units manufactured by Swift Manufacturing Solutions Ltd, Newtown, Powys are being constructed on the former Alva Academy site, Alva, Clackmannanshire.
Mr. Brown, Councillor Balsille, senior members from Marshall Construction, Tigh Grain and Machin Dunn & Macfarlane Architects discussed the innovative project and the much needed boost to social housing in the area.
Tigh Grian’s mission is to reduce fuel poverty and maintenance costs for the affordable housing sector in the UK. Building airtight and well-insulated factory-finished SIP buildings that significantly reduce home energy and maintenance costs, achieving net zero carbon emissions is at the centre of Tigh Grian’s work, without compromising comfort or design flexibility while also reducing waste.
Robert Marshall, Managing Director, Marshall Construction Ltd, commented: “We were delighted to welcome Mr Brown to our site in Alva. This project is showcasing a first in Scotland for this type of build and demonstrates the future of architectural design, which lies with the integration of renewable energy technologies. Once this development is complete towards the end of 2016 it will attract a lot of attention and will point the way for future housing”.
Gordon Campbell, Director, Tigh Grian Ltd., commented: “While there is a clear challenge in the UK in relation to housing supply, it is also clear we have issues relating to the type of housing we provide, and how we go about it. Tigh Grian has brought all of these dynamics together with a design that can be adapted across all tenure types.”
