Affordable housing

Working on behalf of Kingdom Housing Association, MFA was tasked with securing planning permission and the associated building warrant for an affordable housing development on the edge of Guardbridge.  

The development provides 56 new homes for social rent and 10 new homes for mid market rent in a mix of flatted cottages and 2 storey terraced dwellinghouses.  The buildings are of modern design using a simple palette of finishing materials.  The residential layout fully embraces both Designing Places and Designing Streets policy principles to create a modern, safe, distinctive and sustainable development.

The main project objectives were to:

• Provide high quality, energy efficient affordable housing that were attractive to Kingdom Housing Association tenants.
• Address the high demand for affordable housing in the area.
• Help meet Scotland’s target of reducing carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.

All of the houses were designed with high levels of thermal and sound insulation which far exceeded the minimum requirements.  As such, the dwellings achieved an energy efficiency rating B as well as complying with the Silver Level sustainability standards.  Construction work started on site in October 2014 with the first 34 properties completed by November 2015 and the remaining 32 properties completed in March 2016.