WORK is under way to convert a commercial property in Aberdeen’s Bridge of Don into six high-quality rented homes for registered social landlord Osprey Housing.
The £850,658 Ellon Road project — due for completion in September — is helping preserve a part of the city’s rich granite heritage while also upgrading the building to meet today’s energy standards.
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Carrying out the work is local builder KW Contractors, in association with Bradley Craig Architects, also based in Bridge of Don.
This marks the final project for outgoing Osprey Director of Assets Hugh Crothers, who is retiring. He said: ‘The partnership with KW Contractors is working well, and we are all committed to delivering affordable housing in what is a high-demand area.
“Being able to reuse an existing building and so improving the local area also adds to the project’s importance for Osprey and more widely the surrounding community.”
KW Contractors director Tony Auld said: “We are excited to partner with Osprey in this vital regeneration project, which will offer high-quality homes in one of the most accessible locations in the city.”
Architect Bradley Craig said: “We are grateful for the opportunity to be involved in a scheme that illustrates the clear benefit of transformation of existing buildings as part of a broader strategy for sustainable placemaking.”
Osprey currently owns and manages more than 1,800 properties across Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, and Moray.
Once complete, the Ellon Road project will deliver two two-bedroom flats and four one-bedroom flats. One of the two-bedroom properties will be on the ground floor with full wheelchair accessibility and private access, and all six flats will have off-street parking for one vehicle. They will be heated by gas and feature fire suppression systems.
Nearly £636,000 of the project cost has come from the Scottish Government in Housing Association Grant funding.
Aberdeen Osteopathy Clinic, also located in the building, is remaining open for business at usual throughout the renovation process.
Welcoming the project, Aberdeen City Council Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee Convenor Councillor Miranda Radley said: ‘We’re delighted to support the delivery of these social rented homes on Ellon Road.
“It’s also great to see the re-purposing of an otherwise unwanted building in the city to provide much-needed affordable homes.”
