Eildon officially opens latest new homes in Westruther

The highly energy-efficient social rented development had a lettings policy in place which gave preference to people with a local connection.

Local caterers provided refreshments, and the school children from the village enjoyed a ‘Construction in a box’ session, learning all about how homes are built and the different jobs and careers in the construction industry.

Eildon’s chief executive, Nile Istephan, said: “We were delighted to open our doors to welcome guests and neighbours along to see this fantastic new development Edgar Court/Edgar Road in Westruther, after what has been an extremely challenging build.

“This development started some time ago, consisting of 3-bed 5-person and 2-bed 4-person homes. Unfortunately, the building contractor went into administration and this meant we had to procure a new contractor. Cruden came on board and rebuilt the homes using a timber construction. These green homes have a higher specification in terms of air-tightness and have the latest mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems with excellent insulation.

“I want to thank the Scottish Government and Scottish Borders Council for their financial contributions to this project but also want to say a huge thank you to the local people of Westruther for their continued patience. We hope the wait has been worthwhile when they see the quality of the new homes which will be more economic to run and kinder to the environment. They generally need 90% less energy for heating and hot water than standard buildings with very low running costs.”

For Steven Simpson, group managing director of Cruden, new developments aren’t just about bringing new homes to the area. They can also offer lots of opportunities for community benefits.

“Partnering with Eildon Housing Association to deliver much-needed, energy-efficient homes in Westruther has been a genuine team effort,” he outlined. “After stepping in mid-project, we rebuilt the properties using modern timber construction and a number of high-performance features to create warm, comfortable homes with low running costs.”

Steven added: “Equally important is the legacy we leave, and our work with the community, including a £5,000 contribution to support important local projects, underlines our commitment to the people of Westruther.”

The project team also included Langmuir & Hay as employers agent and principal designer, John Gilbert Architects, G3 Engineers and Vaillant.