MANY projects today, whether they are industrial, commercial or
service-based, rely on multi-source funding packages. This is becoming
more commonplace in housing too, where public/private-sector
partnerships are increasingly popular.
Few housing developments however can boast such an august funding
consortium as the Tower Square development in Alloa, where each partner
has become involved because of the project's considerable value to the
community.
The development stands beside the fourteenth-century Alloa Tower where
the landowners, the Erskine family, played host to many noble guests
including Mary Queen of Scots.
Tower Square itself is part of the Mar Policies. Built before the turn
of the century to serve Alloa House, home of the Earl of Mar and Kellie,
it fell into disrepair after the house was demolished in 1959.
Five years ago, Lord Mar gifted the buildings and the five acres of
land to the Alloa Tower Building Preservation Trust, which had been
formed by Clackmannan District Council and the Erskine family.
This particular project is unusual in that all of the funding partners
have come together to create a package of subsidies so that the local
people can buy the homes for a reasonable cost.
The trust, in a joint venture with Ochil View Housing Association, has
converted the stables and servants' quarters into one flat and eleven
two-storey cottages priced between #36,000 and #49,500.
Ochil View's remit is to provide housing for people in need in
Clackmannan District, to provide a greater choice of tenure for those
living in the area, and to upgrade the area through physical
rehabilitation and environmental improvements.
As such, the five-acre site has been given over to several
community-based building developments including Kirkcare Amenity Housing
and the Senile Dementia Care Unit, and the restoration of the Tower
Square is also seen as being beneficial to the community in terms of
both housing and environmental improvement.
If the partnership between Ochil View Housing Association and the
Alloa Tower Building Preservation Trust seems unique, then so is the
funding package.
The agencies involved are Historic Scotland, Scottish Homes, Forth
Valley Enterprise, Clackmannan District Council, Central Regional
Council and Dunfermline Building Society, and together they have footed
a bill of around #800,000.
Historic Scotland provided #124,000 and Scottish Homes grants
subsidised the project to the tune of #180,000. Clackmannan District
Council, Central Regional Council and Forth Valley Enterprise all
assisted with further grants, and private sector funding in the form of
a loan has come from the Dunfermline Building Society.
For Ochil View Housing Association, the restoration of the buildings
and subsequent development of houses at Tower Square, has been an ideal
opportunity to widen the choice of housing it can offer to local people.
Because the development has been subsidised, local people already on
the Housing Association's list will get priority, together with those
who are tenants at present but would like to become first time
owner/occupiers. Even those people moving in to the area and
contributing to the local economy will be considered.
The original buildings were built in two phases at the beginning of
the nineteenth century. They were in a state of total dereliction and
had been unoccupied for a considerable time, with the exception of one
house which was -- and is -- still occupied.
Great effort was made by Heath, architects and stone consultants of
Edinburgh, to retain the authentic period style.
Bob Heath says: ''This is a small development of individual houses
that fit into a historic setting yet provide modern amenities, including
central heating and modern kitchens.
''There are no two houses alike: the accomodation varies from unit to
unit because of the constraints of the shaping of the original
buildings.''
All of the new work, including the dormers, roof lights, porches and
windows has been sympathetically designed, not as a pastiche or a copy.
This approach is one which has the approval of Historic Scotland, one of
the major funders.
Bob Heath adds: ''We have put roofs of West Highland slate on to the
original profile and repaired and repointed the stonework, which was
local sandstone. We have also used stone from County Durham, the nearest
currently available stone, to repair and infill open cartsheds.
''In the lower storey of one building we are creating a visitors'
centre and tearoom for the adjacent Tower. This this will be run by the
Trust, which is also retaining two houses.''
The Tower Square development in Alloa is due to be completed this
month.
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