West Lothian Council remains devoted to delivering new homes for young people in Livingston despite the collapse of one of the firms involved in the construction project. Connect Modular, an Ayrshire-based company, which was constructing supported housing off-site near West Lothian College, went into administration earlier this year. The modular building approach had promised to deliver the new homes within a year from the commencement of the project last July.
Councillor Paul, along with the Head of Housing, Julie Whitelaw, and Paul McGirk, Chief Executive of Hub South East, marked the official start of the project on-site with representatives from Connect Modular. However, concerns arose after the SNP’s Willie Boyle raised questions about the impact of the firm’s collapse on the Livingston project during a council meeting.
Julie Whitelaw assured that while it is early to determine the project’s timeline, West Lothian Council is working closely with Hub South East, their development partner for major construction projects, to address the situation. Connect Modular, a subsidiary of the Wee House Group, employed 48 staff who were made redundant due to the company’s collapse.
The supported housing scheme near West Lothian College consists of 28 one-bedroom flats aimed at young people, with 16 flats designed for potential future transformation into mainstream housing. Additionally, there will be flexible office space for up to ten staff members and overnight accommodation to support and assist the young residents.
The affordable housing initiative includes a mix of 20 two and three-bedroom houses and three-bedroom flats. Construction activities began in July last year on a vacant site adjacent to West Lothian College. Despite Connect Modular’s situation, the council affirmed its commitment to delivering new affordable housing and is collaborating with Hub South East to assess the implications and a way forward for the project.
In summary, West Lothian Council’s determination to provide much-needed housing for young people in Livingston remains unwavering, despite setbacks faced by one of the project’s key contractors. The collaborative efforts with development partners reflect a commitment to finding solutions and ensuring the successful completion of the supported housing scheme.