Advertising Feature: Glasgow’s affordable new homes market set to flourish thanks to Commonwealth Games

From retail to hospitality and transport – Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games 2014 is set to bring wealth and a much-needed boost to a host of ailing Scottish sectors.

The construction industry is already quids in. Or at least those housing developers and contractors involved in the building of the Athlete’s Village certainly are. CCG, Cruden, Mactaggart & Mickel and W H Malcolm all struck gold when they won the preferred bidders status for the brand new development which is set to include 1,400 properties, including affordable new homes under shared equity deals and more opportunities therefore for first-time buyers.

The online portal whathouse.co.uk has sponsored the past two Scottish Home Awards and is aware that it’s not only the architects, builders and suppliers who’ll benefit from these new homes in Scotland.

“Housing Associations in Glasgow will also be assured a place on the winner’s podium. West of Scotland Housing Association, Glasgow Housing Association and The New Housing Association will all be on the receiving end of 100 properties each for social rent once the athletes up and leave,” said Keith Osborne, features editor for whathouse.co.uk. “First-time buyers and those in the market for affordable housing are also in the running and should definitely start limbering up by saving for deposits now.”

In total around 50 properties will be available for shared equity from the £150million development (which covers 95 acres). Another 300 properties will be sold of privately – many within the reach of first-time buyers according to City Legacy Homes, the overarching company delivering the development of the Athletes Village.

And there’s no doubt all properties will be sold off without any difficulty. Not only does the ‘Village’ in Dalmarnock sit just two miles from Glasgow’s increasingly cosmopolitan city centre and next to the handy new M74 extension, but the homes themselves come with modern features such as a 60 per cent reduced carbon footprint and, as a result, reduced energy bills.

City Legacy Homes have already received enquiries on purchasing these Scottish new homes – despite the fact they won’t go on sale for another three years at least and all have to be retro-fitted with kitchens once the athletes leave.

A spokesman for City Legacy Homes said they wanted to “offer something for everyone” and help “create a balanced community.” “The 300 private houses will be offered at affordable levels, within the reach of first-time buyers and those currently resident in the area,” he said.

Chief Executive of West of Scotland Housing Association Duncan McNaught believes mixed tenure is the way forward for future housing developments.

He added: “In general I believe what’s happening regarding partnership working in Glagsgow’s East End is fantastic and will ultimately lead to far more affordable housing than those developed for the games village.”

It’s good but it doesn’t stop there. The removal of temporary facilities such as the athlete’s canteen will leave further land ripe for affordable housing development in Dalmarnock – giving those construction companies who lost out on the bids this time round, another three years to brush up on their tenders and go for gold.