A PORT Glasgow housing development reached the finals of the Scottish home-building industry ‘Oscars’.

The 102-home development at Woodhall – with stunning views over the Clyde - was a finalist in the Best Home Design category at the Homes for Scotland awards. It was built by Glasgow-based affordable housing specialist Lovell for River Clyde Homes.

The project, completed in November 2011, involved close collaboration between Lovell, client River Clyde Homes, architects Hypostyle and residents.

Lovell regional director Alan Taylor said: “The aim was to create homes which incorporate high standards of design and sustainability, and that are a pleasure to live in for residents. It’s highly gratifying for everyone on the project team to have won through to the finals of the Homes for Scotland awards. That success is entirely down to the close collaboration between Lovell, River Clyde Homes, the architects and the residents throughout the project.”

The location, on a steeply sloping site overlooking the river, was a key factor in developing the design. Level plateaus were excavated on which were built mainly split-level units. Tenants all requested a waterfront view and this was achieved in the finished development. A key challenge was to deal with the large volume of rock which had to be excavated before foundations could be built. The majority was used as infill material on nearby dock projects - an environmentally-friendly solution which greatly reduced the amount of material sent to landfill.

Tenants each have their own entrance to their garden while homes have patio doors which lead out to each property’s secure garden space. The homes benefit from sustainable design features including high standards of insulation and modern boilers; heat-retaining severe weather exposure glazing; and the maximisation of south-facing windows in order to make use of solar gain.

Residents were extensively consulted to ensure a high level of satisfaction with the finished properties and were closely involved in the design process, including being able to vote on the choice of external doors and having the option to choose from a wide range of different finishes for their kitchen fittings.