Residents will be rehoused in modern homes Councilreaffirmspledgeafterconcernswereraised
People living in damp and cold homes set for demolition will be moved to new-build properties in Tannahill by the autumn, Renfrewshire Council has said.
The local authority has moved to reassure all residents affected by the demolition that they will be placed in the new-build homes off Blackstoun Road should they wish.
Housing bosses were forced to reaffirm their commitment to an earlier promise that the new-build homes would be retained for existing Ferguslie families after two units were allocated to people from outwith the area.
This was only done after other residents waiting for a similar-sized property within the development at the former St Fergus’ Primary School were consulted.
A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council said those people chose to wait for their previously allocated home and only then were the homes handed over to those at the top of the housing waiting list.
He said: “Residents in the Tannahill area whose current homes are due to be demolished were given first option on the new-builds.
“Every Tannahill resident who asked to be rehoused was allocated a home, and has now been given an approximate move-in date. Any resident who wishes to move sooner should contact us and we will try to arrange this if we can.
“Throughout the process we have worked hard to have a visible and available presence in the area and keep Tannahill residents as up to date as possible.
“This has included visiting residents at home, basing housing officers in the Tannahill Centre as a drop-in, and delivering regular newsletters with progress updates to every address in the area.
“We’d encourage residents to please get in touch with any questions.”
He added: “Our investment in new housing complements the wider work done in recent years to develop a masterplan for future development in Ferguslie Park, in partnership with the local community, and we hope the completed housing development will be one of which the community can be proud.”
Work to build the 101 homes in Tannahill began in May 2021 after the start date was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
And while it was hoped all residents would be in their new homes for Christmas 2022, the build has, like most construction projects across the UK, been impacted with problems securing materials.
To date, seven homes have been occupied, while a further eight families will move in this week.
The remainder will be filled on a phased basis once building work is complete.
Council officials spoke out after some people expressed concerns that two homes had already been allocated to people outwith their area and others sought clarity over proposed move-in dates.
Terry McTernan, chair of Ferguslie Park Community Council, said: “This issue is ‘not anti anyone’ or begrudging anyone a good home, but the fact is two out of the seven homes that have been handed over to date have gone to people outwith the community and the truth is that makes people suspicious of the council.
“The council says that this is as a consequence of people from Tannahill not wanting those houses.
“But when I speak to people they’re telling me they have been in touch with the council to say ‘I’m happy to move, I’m wanting in because the current housing stock is dire’.
“This development was supposed to be a positive start to the wider Making of Ferguslie Park regeneration initiative and we had hoped it would have got off to a better start.”
Every ... resident who asked to be rehoused was allocated a home