Residents Say Balgrayhill Best Flats in the City
Residents car parks at Balgrayhill in North Glasgow have benefitted from major investment which has seen the number of parking spaces increased and much needed environmental improvements carried out.
For over 40 years the car parks were seen as unappealing and underused slotted in between the multi-storey blocks on Balgrayhill Road and below the blocks hidden away on the other side of the road at Viewpoint Place.
The old car parks were one storey high and the basement leveIs have been closed up since the 1980s due to anti-social behaviour.
ng homes working with contractor Mackenzie Construction demolished the concrete car parks, upgraded the drainage areas and installed additional external lighting. Three new surface level car parks with additional bays were created, CCTV coverage was increased, paths and walkways were upgraded, street furniture was added and repairs were carried out to retaining walls.
As the work on the car parks nears completion many residents in Balgrayhill have commented on the difference the work has made to the area including: John Watt from Viewpoint Place who said “What a transformation! I was born and bred in Springburn and remember how the car parks used to be. It is a big improvement. I think it will look really smart when its finished. One of the first things I did when the car park opened was take a picture!”
One of the many improvements at the flats is that residents can now access the block from the same level as the car park. Mr Watt continued: “Before if anyone parked in the old car park they would have to walk a fair distance and upstairs to get into the block. Now the new lifts on our blocks go all the way down to the car park so we can go straight into the block from the car park which makes things a lot easier.”
The car parks are covered by cameras which are operated by ng homes 24 hour concierge service adding to the feeling of safety and security in the community.
Balgrayhill Road resident Helena Murphy is delighted with the work and said: “The new car parks look stunning and so do the flats. I’m delighted with what’s been done, the whole place looks really good. When my friends or family visit or even pass by they say these are the best flats in the city.”
Chairperson of ng homes, John Fury who also lives in a multi-storey property in the Carron area of Springburn said: “We are committed to the multi-storey properties in North Glasgow and with these new car parks our tenants, residents and the visitors who use them will agree that they are a massive improvement to what was there before.” The 4 blocks at 22/42 Viewpoint Road and 178/198 Balgrayhill Road have seen over £4M invested in them since they transferred to ng homes in 2011. Work has included upgrades of all communal landings, foyer areas and front entrances, improved disabled access, new improved energy efficient lighting, new wall and floor finishes, anti-graffiti paint finishes, all communal doors treated and re-painted and replaced where required, new ironmongery and new communal main security doors have also been fitted. The passenger lifts have also been refurbished with new lift carriages, new architraves and lighting, new lift call buttons and new gearless technology installed.
The foyers which used to be exposed to the elements are now enclosed and community spaces have been created where residents can meet. The entrance areas outside the buildings have been upgraded to a high standard as have the internal landings. As well as the improvements made to the common areas each flat has also benefitted from both external and internal wall insulation.
ng homes is responsible for 14 multi-storeys in the area and the 4 blocks at Balgrayhill are located at the highest point in the city overlooking Springburn Park. With two 26-storey blocks containing 200 flats and two 25-storey blocks containing 192 flats almost 400 families live in the striking tower blocks which were officially opened by the late Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1968.
Senior Housing Officer for the area Geri Anderson said: “We continue to listen to our residents so we can keep improving. We would like to thank everyone in the Balgrayhill area for their patience whilst the work is being carried out and we are sure everyone will agree that the new car parks make a big difference to the area.”
If you would like more information on the work at Balgrayhill please contact ng homes on 0141 560 6000 or e-mail [email protected]
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