THE regeneration of Alexandria town centre kicked off last week as the new housing development on the Kippen Dairy site was officially opened.

The development, which was formerly occupied by Kippen Dairy and Leven Cottage Hospital, lay derelict for many years until it was rejuvenated and has now been officially opened by housing minister Kevin Stewart.

The design and layout of the houses has been carefully considered to ensure that it has maximum impact in transforming the area. There will be 55 units in total on the site which will include 42 one and two bedroom flats, 11 two, three and four bedroom houses and two wheelchair adapted flats all for social rent.

The 55 new social rented homes are part of a bigger project that will also see home created in Renton, which it is hoped may help tackle the high number of applicants on the housing list.

Gill Montgomery, who acted as Project Manager for Caledonia Housing Association on this development, said: "The handovers started in July and the tenants that have moved in so far are delighted with their new homes.

“There have been delays but we're there now I think. All 55 new residents in this development should have moved in before Christmas."

The aim of the social rented homes is to increase the supply of high quality, affordable housing in the Alexandria area. It also helps in meeting the Scottish government targets to deliver 50,000 new affordable homes by 2021.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart spoke to the Reporter after cutting the ribbon. He said: "I'm delighted to see this development opened. This fulfils two of the objectives I have as minister for local government and housing, first of all the delivery of social housing.

"Beyond that this is an amazing piece of regeneration in a town centre and this will obviously reinvigorate this area which I understand was an empty site for quite a number of years."

Councillor David McBride added: "I'm absolutely delighted to see development come to fruition. It has been a long awaited site in Alexandria, a crucial site for regeneration. It lay fairly dilapidated for too long so I'm delighted to see Cordale having completed it and I hear that the tenants are happy there.

"There is a regeneration planned in Alexandria town centre, this is themed as the starting point of that but it ran into a few issues and took a little bit longer than expected. The long awaited opening will be welcomed."

Designed to high quality standards, the new homes include enhanced energy efficiency levels and will transform the former site, hopefully becoming a catalyst in the regeneration of Alexandria Town Centre.