Haldane Housing Development, Stornoway

This new-build development is located close to the centre of Stornoway and involves the construction of twenty-two flats for the Hebridean Housing Partnership.

The development takes its name from the former Haldane Hostel, which until a few years ago housed schoolchildren from outlying Island areas during the school weeks. The old hostel building was demolished under a separate contract a few years ago.

Work was due to have started on site last summer but was held up until some design issues were resolved. In the end, UBC started work on site in November and progress has been good since then. Completion is officially due in November of this year, but is likely to be achieved early than that date.

The development consists of two main three-storey blocks and two smaller two storey blocks. The main blocks are linked to one another by a full height atrium that serves as the entrance to the flats on the upper floors. The two smaller blocks are linked to the main blocks by shared roofs.

The design of the building includes a number of unusual features including cantilevered bay windows to some of the upper flats, varying roof pitches and exterior cedar panelling.

In addition to the flats, substantial external works are also to be carried out. These include the usual gardens and drying areas, but also, unusually, the provision of a circular building in the front grounds. This building has been designed to a high specification featuring stone walls, a lead roof, aluminium rainwater goods and even a glazed conical roof cone. Despite this, and despite having the appearance of a Bronze Age dwelling, the only intended residents of this building are to be wheelie bins!

At present, the structural frame is largely complete, as are the external walls and steel frame to the atrium. Most of the windows and external doors have been installed and the roof slating is at an advanced stage. The electrical and plumbing installations are also progressing well.

The Project Architects are Anderson Associates from Stornoway, assisted by Maciver Consultancy Services for Civil and Structural Engineering input and Pick Everard, Glasgow for Mechanical and Electrical services. The Project Quantity Surveyor is the Rennie Partnership, Cumbernauld.