RIHAF members visit Ayrshire on this year’s study tour
The tour was put together for rural and islands members to network and promote learning through visiting innovative projects and developments.
This week, RIHAF members came together in Ayrshire for the summer meeting and study tour. The tour was put together for rural and islands members to network and promote learning through visiting innovative projects and developments.
First, the group visited Connect Modular and The Wee House Company – located in Cumnock, Ayrshire. Connect Modular supplies affordable, modular developments for housing associations and developers across the UK. With input from councils and housing associations, they have developed a range of modular house types - from one bedroom flats to four bedroom detached homes - which are highly energy efficient and fully compliant with standards for Housing for Varying Needs. Homes are more than 90% complete before leaving the factory and being completed on sites across the UK.
After visiting the Ayrshire factory, the tour visited a Connect Modular construction site in Kilmarnock, where Cunninghame Housing Association are delivering a large-scale affordable housing development in partnership with East Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government. The first phase of the project will shortly see the completion of 101 new homes for social rent – including a mixture of general needs houses, together with 10 amenity bungalows and five wheelchair bungalows.
Finally, the group visited the BE-ST Campus near Hamilton. Formerly Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, their mission is to accelerate the build environment’s transition to zero carbon emissions. The Innovation Factory gives the sector access to a range of state-of the-art development, manufacturing, robotics and visualisation equipment and expertise – to ensure any problems posed by building or retrofitting to zero carbon standards have ready-made solutions in place.
Join RIHAF for the event in Stirling this November at the Scottish Rural and Islands Housing Conference: Scottish Rural & Islands Housing Conference - The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Limited (sfha.co.uk)
For more information about RIHAF membership and events, please contact RIHAF Secretary, Bryan Leask – bryan@hjaltland.org