New homes will include housing for war veterans

Houses are now being constructed on two former Monklands school sites; including a development to accommodate military veterans.

Work is underway to build 14 flats at the old Alexandra Primary location in Airdrie – alongside a station park and ride car park – while 40 new houses and flats will transform the former St Ambrose High site in Coatbridge.

Six properties at the latter site, on Blair Road, will be specially for ex-service personnel under a shared ownership agreement with the Scottish veterans’ garden city association (SVGCA).

Due to be completed next September, the new homes will be wheelchair accessible, and follow the construction of the organisation’s custom-built“houses for heroes”cottages at Aitchison Street in Airdrie five years ago.

SVGCA chair Richard Callander said:“This housing project is a wonderful example of joint working to create housing for veterans who are disabled; and by working together we’re providing modern, adaptable accommodation for our veterans.”

Meanwhile, the new flats on part of the old school site on Cairnhill Road are expected to be completed by July.

The remainder of the site will then house a 40-space car park to serve Airdrie train station, which is due to be completed by March.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is contributing £400,000, with work being carried out on the new facility by the council’s roads service and the transport body.

The start of construction at both new housing sites – vacated when the school pupils moved to new buildings in 2012 – was marked by a sod-cutting event led by housing convener Allan Graham and attended by developer Robertson Partnership Homes.

He was joined in Blairhill by Coatbridge North councillors Bill Shields and Alex McVey; and in Cairnhill

This housing project is a wonderful example of joint working to create housing for veterans who are disabled . . .