Servite

Servite Housing Association has expanded its workforce.....

Servite Housing Association has expanded its workforce and is involved in several new build developments in Tayside and beyond.

In its 25^th anniversary year, Servite will be completing scores of new homes by the spring and has many more starting in the coming months. It is going from strength to strength, expanding the number of properties it offers for rent or shared ownership, and is demonstrating the optimism and enterprising spirit that The Courier's Let's Get Dundee Working campaign aims to generate.

"There's no doom and gloom here," said Servite's Communications Officer Tom Jamieson. "We are a major local employer. We have increased our staff from 140 to 152 over the last two years." That's those directly employed by Servite, involved in planning projects and looking after tenants in existing housing. However, its activities create work for many more people, particularly tradesmen involved in building new developments and the tradesmen involved in maintaining properties. "We use local contractors for planned and reactive maintenance," said Mr Jamieson. Whether it's a burst pipe or routine upkeep of the grounds, Servite calls in local tradesmen, thereby helping to put money in their pockets and keep local businesses in work.

At a time when many projects have ground to a halt and building firms have drastically reduced their workforces because of the recession, Servite is forging ahead with its mix of housing for age groups and abilities. "We completed three new developments just before Christmas and will complete four more before the summer, a total of 251 new homes" he said. "That's all good news for the construction industry."

Last month, 16 family homes and two wheelchair adapted homes were completed at Tulloch Hill, Perth. In addition, 37 family homes were completed at Mains of Inchture. And 15 homes were completed at Albert Place, Brechin, including 11 rental homes and four shared equity properties, where the resident of the house and Servite have a shared ownership arrangement.

"That's all work for the housebuilders, plumbers and sparkies," said Mr Jamieson.

At Padanaram, near Forfar, 20 homes are due for completion by late spring or early summer - six for older people, four for families, two wheelchair adapted and eight shared equity houses. Also due for completion are 14 homes at Don Street, Forfar, 32 houses in Inverness and 45 at Craigmore Street, in Kirkton, Dundee, before the summer. This is the second phase of development at Kirkton, as 24 family homes have already been built and occupied at Keswick Terrace.

It has another four new housing developments in the pipeline to start construction this year - seven homes at Rattray, near Blairgowrie, nine homes at Coupar Angus, 23 at Bridge of Earn and 10 in Inverness. Planning permission is anticipated for a fifth development of 21 homes at Grantown-on-Spey.

"There are a lot of good, positive things going on in Dundee and round about and we are a prime example of that," said Mr Jamieson. "Servite are looking forward to the next 25 years with confidence. We are investing in staff training and the infrastructure at our headquarters and planning to continue expanding and delivering more new homes to people of all ages and abilities."

(Article courtesy of Dundee Courier)