Marjory McMurray, who has now settled in to her two-bedroom home, said: “I have lived in Larkhall all my life and grew up just a few hundred yards from where I am now.

“Everywhere I have lived before has always just felt like a house – not a home. For the first time I have my own front door and a bathroom upstairs and down which is fantastic.

“My son lives with me and he loves it so much that he invites his friends around all the time. And when my grandson visits he loves playing outside – it’s so safe and away from any busy main roads.

“I just love it. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and have to pinch myself that it isn’t a dream – this really is where I live now.”

Marjory’s home is one of 38 new homes built on the site of the old Craigbank Primary School.

At the official opening of the development on Tuesday 29 August, Marjory was presented with a lovely bunch of flowers by Councillor Davie McLachlan, the chair of the council’s Housing and Technical Resources Committee.

Cllr McLachlan said: “I am delighted that Marjory has now moved into her new home in what is already a friendly and welcoming neighbourhood.

“Looking around the development I can see why Marjory is delighted to be living here.

“It is a well thought out construction project with not only well planned out houses for its new residents but also built in a great location close to a good range of local amenities in a well-established community.

“Seeing and hearing first-hand how delighted residents are with their new homes makes all the hard work and vision of these developments all the more satisfying.

I wish Marjory and her son many years of enjoyment in their new home.”

The development was completed thanks to the council’s construction partnership with Cruden Building & hub South West.

Michael Ross, Chief Executive of Public Sector Development Partner hub South West said:

“We’re delighted to see tenants settling into their new homes. Our long-standing relationship

with South Lanarkshire Council has seen over £56million invested into new homes through our partnership working model.

“With all of our projects, a key focus is bringing wealth and social value back to the local area and this development has created new jobs, apprenticeships, training opportunities and supported many local businesses to deliver a valuable lasting legacy.”

The range of house types have been built to the highest standards of energy efficiency and designed to be suitable for householders with a wide range of needs.

Colin Kennedy, Construction Director for Cruden Building added: “This development has breathed new life into a previous derelict brownfield site, providing high-quality new homes that cater for residents’ varying housing needs.

“We’re thrilled to see Marjory and the other residents enjoying their new homes and wish them many happy years ahead in this fantastic new community.”

Apart from Marjory’s two-bedroom mid-terraced home, there are also a mixture of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes in a variety of housing styles, from cottage flats, detached bungalows, mid-terrace, end terrace and semi-detached houses, that make up the development.

The development is part of the council’s flagship Home+ Programme, part funded by a grant from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

Handovers of 38 units took place on a phased basis this year with the final completion being on 31 May. The development consists of:

• 12 x 1 bed cottage flats
• 1 x 3 bedroom detached bungalow
• 5 x 2 bed mid terraced houses
• 4 x 2 bedroom semi detached houses
• 8 x 2 bedroom end terraced houses
• 4 x 3 bedroom semi detached houses
• 2 x 3 end terraced houses
• 2 x 4 bedroom semi detached houses

The construction partnership has also delivered successful developments at Auldkirk Road, Cambuslang (48 units) and Glengonnar Street, Larkhall (20 units).

These developments are part of the council’s ambitious plans to build 1300 council homes across South Lanarkshire by the end of March 2027. These new homes follows an earlier programme of 1000 additional homes between 2017 and 2022/23.