Regeneration and new housing development

Housing development will continue to be a key part of DGHP’s approach to asset management and its overall business strategy because of the very high levels of demand for affordable housing in the region.

Current programme

DGHP has a number of current development projects ongoing:

• In Thornhill, DGHP is building at the site of the former Wallace Hall School. Properties are due back mid-summer 2015, with homes available to buy, for mid-market rent and for social rent from DGHP
• In Stranraer, work is ongoing to complete one of the largest regeneration projects in the country replacing 198 substandard houses with 207 new build properties
• At Monreith, work is finishing imminently for a number of new homes for mid-market rent and for DGHP tenants
• Two sites are in full swing in Newton Stewart – at Barrhill on the outskirts of the town, 14 properties are nearing completion for Novantie to manage for mid-market rent and a further site at Woodlands, will be home to properties for sale, DGHP rent and mid-market rent
• DGHP has secured DGC support and funding commitment for replacement of an existing block of shops and flats in Friar’s Vennel, a town centre area in Dumfries in need of renewal; plans propose 10 flats above 3 shops.  Work is ongoing.
• In Kirkcudbright, we’re in the final phase of delivering 36 new homes to the town as a combination of mid-market rent, general needs rent and properties to buy

What we’ve acheived so far

DGHP successfully completed two smaller regeneration schemes in Oliphant Court in Dumfries and also Ailsa Gait in Stranraer as the beginning of a wider neighbourhood renewal project in Dumfries and Stranraer.

At Summerville Crescent in Dumfries, 61 flats and maisonettes have been replaced by 38 low build semi and terraced houses, designed to address a shortage of family housing in the area. The scheme moved on to complete a number of properties in central Lochside, replacing a high number of flatted units where no one had exercised their right to buy. The flats were replaced by semi-detached and terraced houses which were available for DGHP tenants, mid-market rent and to buy.

All of the regeneration projects have been designed to high space standards, with state of the art insulation and heating systems and laid out to meet secure by design principles.

Beyond these regeneration schemes, DGHP has recently finished work almost a year ago at the Glebe Development in Lochmaben, near Lockerbie, providing 22 much needed new homes.

At St. John’s Town of Dalry, 22 family houses were built for our tenants and 8 much needed family houses were up for sale through the Scottish Government’s New Supplied Shared Equity scheme.

In Lockerbie, the company invested in a dilapidated old building on Townhead Street in the town, injecting a new lease of life into the community and building an additional six flats to the rear of the property for mid-market rent.

A further new build scheme was completed at Charnwood (16 units), near Dumfries town centre, the properties are low density semi-detached houses for 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes.

In the west of the region at Port William, 14 much needed family homes with spectacular views across the Port William Bay were built. In Sanquhar, in Upper Nithsdale, DGHP has demolished 22 existing unattractive cottages, replacing them with 10 new semi-detached high standard houses at Howies Road in the town.

At Holm Avenue, Dumfries we built new homes for supported accommodation for young people leaving care, in a project part funded by the Big Lottery and Dumfries and Galloway Council.

The company also built 14 units at Dunmuir Park supported accommodation in Castle Douglas which are now leased out to Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Future Schemes

Beyond our current schemes, DGHP is progressing work on a number of developments across Dumfries and Galloway, targeting areas of particular need in Dumfries and other areas.

DGHP has a rigorous development appraisal methodology. For each proposed scheme, an appraisal of development costs and future income and management and maintenance costs is prepared before any commitment is entered into.  DGHP will only undertake schemes which can demonstrate financial viability on realistic assumptions within 35-40 years.