Date Published: 11/12/2018
THE restoration of the iconic Blairtum House in Rutherglen
has been recognised by a prestigious award from the Scottish Government.
There had been fears for the future of the landmark building
after it became derelict and was then set on fire by vandals two years ago just
as a project to renovate it had started.
But after a £3million investment by Livingston-based Rosewood
Homes restored both the historic house and the surrounding grounds, the recently-finished
site has won the national award for “Innovation in any architectural building or place” at the
Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning.
The awards celebrate
achievements in planning from the detail of processing to the final result.
Rosewood Homes Construction
Director Lou Lauder said he was delighted to receive the award which was
presented by the Minister for Local
Government, Housing and Planning Kevin Stewart at a
ceremony in the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh.
Mr Lauder said: “South
Lanarkshire Council planners were looking for something different for this site
and the design team at Crawford Architectural delivered that. Working closely
with planning department throughout the project helped with the success and
quality of this development.
“This was a very
challenging project, particularly after Blairtum House was ravaged by fire. We
are very pleased our efforts in revitalising the existing building by creating
new living space in it and through the homes we constructed to complement it
have been recognised at this level.”
From a
burned-out shell, Blairtum House was converted into a three-bedroom penthouse
and two, three-bedroom luxury flats with the wider development including four,
five-bedroom villas. Most of the properties have already been sold but two
flats are still available.
Mr Lauder added: “We’d
like to thank South Lanarkshire council who were hugely supportive from the
very early stages of the development, the planning process and throughout the
delay caused by the fire.”
Rosewood Homes has
been involved in multiple private and public projects in central Scotland
including building socially-rented accommodation for Clyde Valley Housing
Association.
Rosewood Homes is
backed by private equity company Coralinn LLP
