Case Study: Spittalfield, Perthshire - page 3                       previous page · first page

The Development (cont.d)

Still there were a number of uncertainties faced by Perth Housing Services Ltd as the developer. At any time they realised that either ill health, redundancy or family break-ups could lead to any of the Group dropping out of the project and the association would be left with a house with no prospective buyer. Perth Housing Services were also responsible for co-ordinating the submission of individual RHOG applications and in turn the grant was mandated from each of the Group to Perth Housing Services. To allow the development to proceed Scottish Homes agreed to pay the RHOGs in advance - they are usually paid at the end of housebuilding.

The Spittalfield site plan

In addition to the 12 houses for sale, 4 semi-detached houses for rent were also included in the development plan. These houses were developed on behalf of East Perthshire Housing Association by Perth Housing Services with Housing Association grant from Scottish Homes. The additional scrutiny of the development plan by East Perthshire Housing Association Committee proved to be invaluable and the provision of rented housing also widened housing choice in the village.

the Spittalfield housing development

The main contractors, Muir Construction, commenced work in January 1995 and a relatively trouble free contract was completed ahead of schedule in October 1995. It is a tribute to the group that the original 12 who first came together were the same 12 who moved into their brand new houses days later.

As Grant Laing, one of the 12, commented: "Young families are the lifeblood of any community but especially of rural villages. Once you lose the people the village school goes, then the store and before you know it, the village has little future. At Spittalfield, by banding together and working together, we have not only secured the long term future of our village but we now have super homes and a real feeling of community."

In 2000 all the original families were still in the houses they built with their effort and determination.