Hopes rising over long-awaited new rented housing in Gatehouse

Hopes are rising that new rented housing could finally be built at Gatehouse – at the second time of asking.

Up to eight homes are being proposed on the former Woodside Garage site at the eastern entrance to the town.

The move is being progressed jointly by the Gatehouse Development Initiative (GDI) and South of Scotland Community Homes (SOSCH).

The Ayrshire-based Wee House Company has been handed the brief of designing the energy-efficient properties to a fixed budget.

Grant support from the Rural Housing Fund and the Coastal Benefit Fund is underpinning initial costs.

GDI spokesman David Steel welcomed being able to commence first stage planning after years of delay and disappointment.

He said: “We are delighted to be out of the starting blocks thanks to the support and guidance of SOSCH, and to be working with the Ayrshire based Wee House Company to turn our vision for affordable homes into reality.

“We are embarking on the feasibility stage to design and establish the viability of the scheme.”

An earlier project in Gatehouse for 12 to 14 social homes had looked set to go ahead in January 2022.

But the Catholic Church and would-be developers Loreburn failed to agree terms for the former Church of the Resurrection and associated land at Riverbank.

The housing agency had provisional plans to demolish the 50-year-old chapel and build around 12 homes for rent on the site.

Protracted negotiations had yet to conclude when the property was sold to private developers.

Now, many locally view the former Woodside Garage plot as perhaps the last chance for a community-led housing project in the town.

Mike Staples of SOSCH said: “This scheme will deliver much needed affordable homes for local people living and working in the area.

“We are delighted to be working with the Wee House Company, who are skilled in delivering energy efficient factory built modular homes to a fixed
budget.”

The Woodside homes will be owned by the community and available for affordable rent.

“Anyone with a local connection and in need of an affordable home is invited to register their interest at

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GatehouseCommunityHousing or by calling SOSCH on 07743446721.

The long-standing derelict area at Woodside – which lies within the Gatehouse conservation area – has been a sore point at Gatehouse Community Council for years.

Spiralling property prices and the growing number of holiday homes are also contributing to a shortage of affordable housing
locally.