Julie Wilson now lives in one of the top-floor flats in the new Kirk Street development by South Lanarkshire Council. She decided after many years of living out of a suitcase while working in the hospitality industry, laterally in hotels across the west coast of Scotland, it was time to set down roots again.

When she returned to the area she moved in with her son and his family while she waited for a council property to become available so that she could move out and get a place of her own.

Julie said: “I was delighted when I was eventually offered a place of my own. But I was completely shocked but delighted when I heard it was in Strathaven. And now that I’ve settled in, I still can’t believe how lucky I am.

“As well as being only a short walk to where I now work, there are also so many countryside walks and wild-swimming spots nearby, both of which I really enjoy.

“My flat is so airy and light and has great views looking out over the town. I still can’t quite believe this is my new home.”

At the official opening of the development, Julie was presented with a lovely bunch of flowers by Councillor Davie McLachlan, the chair of the council’s Housing and Technical Resources Committee.

Cllr McLachlan said: “It was a privilege to meet Julie and be invited to have a look around her new home.

“I am so happy for her that she is back in a place she has always loved and has now settled back into her old neighbourhood where she has so many fond memories of bringing up her family.

“Seeing and hearing first-hand how delighted residents are with their new homes makes all the hard work and vision of these developments all the more satisfying.”

The development is part of the council’s flagship Home+ Programme, part funded by grants from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

The 20 flats were purchased from Clyde Valley Properties Services. They are a mixture of amenity and general needs properties and are built to the highest standards of energy efficiency. There are:

• 3 x 1-bed flats 2-person apartment
• 4 x 2-bed flats 3-person apartment
• 13 x 2-bed flats 4-person apartment

These developments are part of the council’s ambitious plans to build 1300 council homes across South Lanarkshire by the end of March 2027. These new homes follow an earlier programme of 1000 additional homes between 2017 and 2022/23.