Hundreds of new council houses will soon begin to take shape within the grounds of a former Aberdeen secondary school.
Chap Group has been selected by the city council to build the 369 homes on the site of the demolished Summerhill Academy on the Lang Stracht.
And on a visit to the site yesterday, council bosses pledged the work would bring jobs to the area and much-needed childcare facilities.
The land has lain empty since the school was demolished in 2012.
Council co-leader Jenny Laing said: “I think people will be pleased the site is now being developed as it has been derelict for some time and they will welcome the introduction of the new homes and the amenities they will bring.
“These council homes will help the local authority with the challenges of the number of people on our waiting lists whether that be for a home or a transfer to a bigger or small home.”
The Summerhill site will offer a mixture of one, two, three-bedroom homes, all connected to the council’s combined heat and power scheme, which is fuelled by waste heat from electricity generation to keep residents’ bills down.
Preparation work will include improvements to prevent flooding at the Denburn Culvert.
The work is the latest phase of the Conservative-Labour-independent administration’s efforts to build 2,000 council homes across the city.
Last year, 99 council homes were built in the city’s Smithfield area and another 80 are nearing completion in Manor Walk.
And later this year, construction will begin on a 283 council home development in Wellheads Road in Dyce.
There are plans for further homes in Tillydrone, Kincorth, Craighill and Greenferns.
Mrs Laing’s council co-leader, Douglas Lumsden, said: “The entire city is benefiting from our ambitious council house programme. It is gathering real momentum.
“Access to housing greatly improves the quality of life for residents by creating new communities and opening up new social and economic horizons.
“Our programme also supports employment and training opportunities and gives us a chance to attract and retain key workers – nurses, teachers, craft workers – making it a win-win-win for the city.”
