Fauldhead

McTaggart is delivering 41 new affordable homes for Hillhead Housing Association at Fauldhead, Kirkintilloch, bringing a variety of home types to a well-connected East Dunbartonshire community. The scheme includes three blocks of terraced houses, a three-storey flatted block, and a block of cottage flats, together with new roads, footpaths, parking, and landscaping.

The project is commissioned by Hillhead Housing Association and managed by Curb. It is being delivered to Gold Regulation 7 standard and Secured by Design accreditation, with community benefit targets already exceeded ahead of completion.

The Fauldhead site presented three distinct challenges, each requiring a different response. The brownfield plot at Findlay Drive sits adjacent to an active CALA Homes development, with shared access routes and boundary interfaces requiring continual coordination. To establish a safe and independent access route during early works, McTaggart created a temporary access approved by East Dunbartonshire Roads. This enabled phased handover of Blocks 1–3 independently of the CALA programme. An enabling agreement with CALA governed shared use of surplus soil and joint utility planning, requiring frequent interface meetings and aligned programming. Repeated failed water quality samples delayed commissioning of mains water and threatened internal programme progress. McTaggart deployed temporary heating equipment to allow painting and internal fit-out to proceed on schedule, avoiding any programme slippage while the water quality issue was resolved.

Although planned as a single completion, McTaggart accelerated works on Blocks 1–3 and completed the infrastructure early,  enabling these units to be handed over ahead of the final deadline. Hillhead Housing Association began tenant occupation while remaining works continued on site. Design meetings with architects and engineers were held fortnightly during preconstruction and early build stages, moving to monthly as the project progressed. Separate coordination meetings were held with CALA throughout. Local residents received regular updates through letter drops.

McTaggart has already exceeded its community benefit targets on this project , and it hasn't yet completed. Every figure below was achieved while the build is still live:

• Eight new roles created, including four apprenticeships
• Seven subcontracts awarded to businesses within 15 miles - generating over £1.2 million in local economic value
• Partnership with Scotland's Bravest, providing supported employment for veterans
• Partnership with Street League to support construction career pathways
• Careers talk and site visit delivered for pupils from St Ninian's High School, Kirkintilloch

The development is being delivered to Gold Regulation 7 standard, the highest energy and sustainability classification under Scottish building regulations  and has achieved Secured by Design accreditation.

Community benefit targets have been exceeded ahead of project completion. Eight jobs created, four apprenticeships, seven local subcontracts, and over £1.2 million in local economic value generated, all while the project is still live. Early completion of Blocks 1–3 infrastructure enabled phased handovers ahead of the final deadline, allowing Hillhead Housing Association to begin tenant occupation while remaining works progressed on site. The decision to partner with Scotland's Bravest providing supported employment for veterans, reflects McTaggart's deliberate approach to inclusive and community-conscious procurement.