£4m Turns Old Yard Into Flats For Elderly

A new £4.3million elderly residential complex was today unveiled on the site of an old Clyde shipyard. The development on the north bank of the river at the former Yarrow’s yard in Yoker will provide 20 flats. Tenants will have access to 24-hour care and support in the joint project between West of Scotland Housing Association, Glasgow City Council and Church of Scotland social care agency Crossreach.

The site, with stunning views of the river, was occupied by Bon Accord Engineering Works adjacent to the shipyard in the past but lay derelict for a number of years. Now, thanks to a £3.3m cash boost from the council’s development regeneration services and £1m from the housing association, the 18,000sq ft complex has been built.

Contractors Persimmon Homes have also built 50 private flats on the site and there are a further 24 rented units owned by the association.

Nick Kemp, of the social work department, said there had been a lot of interest in the new flats. He said: “These 24-hour supported living services are a way of giving older people a choice between receiving help in their own home or going into a care home. This is the second purpose-built facility in the city and we’ll stay committed to developing alternatives to care homes.”

Colin Turnbull, director of housing services, said: “Some of the residents have been moved as a result of accommodation closures, but the majority have come from the community to housing more suited to their needs.”

Elinor Taggart, project manager for the housing association, said: “It has been designed among the other units in the project to integrate the frail elderly into the wider community, along with the other family accommodation and amenities.”