John Alexander: Why bricks and mortar is only half of the story when delivering new homes

When we talk about building new homes, it can be easy to focus on the numbers. At Ellengowan Drive in Dundee, we’ve recently started work on the second phase of an ambitious regeneration that will deliver 59 affordable homes in total. 35 of these will be for social rent and 24 for mid-market rent, with completion expected in 2028.

These homes will add to the 70 delivered in 2023 in phase one, and mark another major step in the wider transformation of a much-adored part of the city.

But Ellengowan is not, and has never been, simply a housing project.

For the people who lived there before redevelopment began, it was described as a village within Dundee - a close-knit community where neighbours looked out for one another and shared a strong sense of belonging. Retaining or building that is something far harder than simply laying bricks, but also something no regeneration project can afford to overlook.

The original Ellengowan homes served Dundee far beyond their intended lifespan. Built in the mid-1920s as a temporary housing measure in response to a rapidly expanding Dundee, they were only ever expected to last around 25 years. A century later, Arbroath Road’s “wee white hooses” still stood proudly, but could no longer meet the quality, accessibility and energy-efficiency standards now expected. Demolition and regeneration therefore became a solemn but unavoidable fate for these wee houses that had quadrupled their lifespan.

The real challenge however, was to ensure that in replacing buildings, we did not lose the spirit of the place. We worked closely with tenants who were decanted from the old homes, maintaining regular dialogue and doing everything possible to preserve existing connections.

The regeneration is also being shaped around the things that help communities thrive: green space, thoughtful layouts, safe and welcoming streets, and places where people can meet, pause and chat.

Work on the wider regeneration is helping create modern, energy-efficient homes that respond to the needs of residents today and in the future. Just as importantly, the design recognises that a successful place is about more than bricks and mortar - it is about how people feel when they step outside their front door. It is about children playing safely together, older residents feeling connected rather than isolated, and encouraging neighbours to become a community, rather than simply living side by side.

This principle isn’t just tied to Ellengowan either – it’s something we work hard to build into every development we deliver.

Scotland, of course, needs more affordable homes and delivering them at pace is vital, but our ambition must always be bigger than delivering housing units alone. It’s easy to build units - the harder and more meaningful task is to create homes and communities where people can feel secure, included and proud to live.