Demolition work gets under way

A DEMOLITION squad has started work on dozens of abandoned flats in Perth.

The 30 vacant homes in Newhouse Road are being pulled down to make way for new affordable apartments.

It is the final phase of a £4 million regeneration project led by the Caledonia Housing Association (Cha).

Planning permission was secured earlier this month for 13 new homes at the Letham site, including a pair of four-bedroom townhouses, eight threebedroom houses and three two-bedroom homes, all with their own parking and back gardens.

The work is being carried out by Falkirk-based demolition experts David Morton Ltd.

Cha chief executive Julie Cosgrove said: “The Newhouse Road community have been fantastic in supporting and working with us throughout this project.

“Their feedback on the quality and standard of their homes has been incredible and helped shape the homes we are now building on this site.

“We look forward to pushing forward with this final phase, delivering more affordable family homes in Perth.”

Families were moved out about two years ago and the flats were then secured with boarded-up windows and doors.

A contractor is expected to be appointed for construction before the end of the year, and work is due to start on the new flats in early 2020.

The housing associat i on’s transformation scheme got under way in August 2015, with a £2.6m refurbishment of 12 blocks of flats further along the street.