Castle Crescent, Closeburn Dumfries

3 new build houses

Client

Nith Valley LEAF Trust

Completion Date

August 2020

Priorities

• Reversing population decline
• Tackling fuel poverty
• Supporting the primary school roll
• Sustainable, low energy housing

Background

Back in 2012, Nith Valley LEAF Trust (NVLT) identified a real housing need in Closeburn, a village near Thornhill in Dumfries & Galloway. The lack of suitable housing, particularly for families, was causing people to move away from the village, and impacting on the small primary school roll. In addition, fuel poverty was identified as a major issue prevalent in local housing stock.

Having successfully purchased and renovated one house for long-term affordable rent locally, NVLT had the confidence to take on a more ambitious project, to meet the continuing housing need within the village. A low energy design was central to the Trust’s sustainable ethos, as well as meeting local community need to provide housing that addressed local fuel poverty issues.

NVLT identified an obvious gap site within the village, which lent itself to development, and purchased the land from the Council, through an asset transfer. Early engagement with John Gilbert Architects was key, producing a design that met the community’s low carbon, sustainable, high quality housing objectives. Work started on site in summer 2019 and following a hiatus due to Covid restrictions, the houses were completed in August 2020.

Funding

A grant from the Scottish Land Fund enabled the purchase of the land, and fund a Development Officer post. Funding for the build was secured from the Rural Housing Fund, local windfarm community benefit funds and a mortgage from Ecology Building Society. The Rural Housing Fund supported the Trust’s pioneering approach and engagement with their advisors was very useful throughout all stages of the project.

Support

South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH), formerly Dumfries and Galloway Small Communities Housing Trust, have supported NVLT for 6 years, from undertaking housing needs and demand assessments, to guiding them through the asset transfer process to purchase the land, and preparing funding applications for the development costs. SOSCH also trained and supported the Development Officer, who was located within their office for the first 18 months in post.

Outcomes

NVLT’s allocation policy prioritised families in housing need, and three families moved into the new houses, with 5 children between them. Having previously lived in insecure housing nearby, or having had to move away from the village, each family now has a secure home, that is affordable to both heat and live in. The children attended Closeburn Primary, which boosted the school roll, and the adults all work in and around the village, supporting the local economy. Castle Crescent is Scotland’s first community-owned Passivhaus certified housing. As well as creating affordable homes for the tenants, the project has been a real boost to community energy, and brought people together as they witnessed what a locally-led solution could achieve.

Future Plans

NVLT have demonstrated that good quality, sustainable homes can be delivered within the funding available, and that housing can contribute positively to the overall sustainability of a very fragile community. Building on the success of this project, the Trust is progressing another housing project, exploring innovative methods of construction, to deliver more affordable housing for the community. SOSCH is continuing to provide support to NVLT as this project progresses.

Awards

The Closeburn Passivhaus project won the 2020 SURF Award for Housing and Regeneration, recognising the lasting benefits the development has brought to the local community. The award highlights the project’s contribution to delivering high-quality, sustainable housing while supporting wider regeneration objectives.

Closeburn, Passivhaus designed homes, for the Nith Valley LEAF Trust
Image credit: Tom Manley Photography
Architect: John Gilbert Architects