Published 19 June 2025
Families have begun to settle into their new Council homes with two mums highlighting how much the properties will enhance the lives of their families.
Amanda Bicknell along with her two children are just one of the families to have recently moved into a new housing development in Pappert, Bonhill.
Elected members, representatives from the Council’s Housing section and the Scottish Government visited the site recently to witness the transformation of the site and see inside some of the properties.
Amanda, along with her son Sean, aged three, and one-year-old Bonnie recently moved into a mid-terrace property in Lavender Gardens having previously stayed at West Bridgend.
She said: “We were staying in the high flats in Dumbarton for about three and a half years.
“Sean is autistic and he is non-verbal.
“We have now got our own garden and the kids have got their own bedrooms.
“They have put me in the middle. The two other gardens have gates but mine doesn’t which is perfect because, otherwise, Sean would just get out all the time. I know it is safe for him.
“I couldn’t dream of anything better for the kids.”
Another family including mum and three children have also settled in Pappert having previously lived elsewhere in West Dunbartonshire.
The mum said: “The house we were in was only a two bed so my older children were sharing. We have now got a three-bedroom end of terrace property.
“It has a really big garden area which will make a big difference to all of the children.
“My son has a complex health condition and he gets at-home sessions with a therapist.
“It was chaos before trying to find space for these sessions but now there is much more room. The kids have all got their own space and that makes a difference.
“The house itself has so much natural light coming in which is great and my daughter has already met another wee girl from one of the houses further up.”
The 26-home development is a first for West Dunbartonshire as six of the homes include Passivhaus technology.
Passivhaus homes are super-insulated and use enhanced components such as triple-glazed windows and specially designed doors to create an airtight building fabric.
With heat loss minimised, the homes require very little heating and will stay warmer for longer with tenants benefitting from lower fuel bills.
The other 20 homes are also energy efficient and include air source heat pumps, solar panels and batteries to store the energy from the panels.
Funding to match the Council’s financial commitment for the project has come from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme Funding and the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment programme.
It is the latest house building project in the area aiming to meet unprecedented demand for social housing. There are five, four-bedroom properties within the site to meet demand from larger families within the area.
Convener of Housing and Communities, Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, said: “Just over a year ago, I was here and building work had only just begun. The transformation in that time is incredible.
“It is great to hear about how the new properties are making such of a difference to the lives of many families.”
Councillor Hazel Sorrell, Vice Convener of Housing and Communities added: “These homes have been specifically designed to be energy efficient and to cater for the changing needs of our tenants.
“It is a pleasure to hear how families are making the most of these new build properties.”
Cabinet Secretary for Housing Màiri McAllan said: “It’s wonderful to hear that families are enjoying their new build homes in Pappert in West Dunbartonshire. Our commitment to creating high-quality, sustainable housing and transforming communities across Scotland is underscored by our investment to complete the 26 new houses. We have provided £2.4 million through our Affordable Housing Supply Programme, alongside £1.25 million from the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme.
“We have a strong track record in affordable housing having supported the delivery of more than 136,000 affordable homes since 2007, with more than 97,000 of those being for social rent. We remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes across Scotland by 2032 with at least 70% for social rent and 10% in our rural and island communities, backed by £768 million of investment in 2025-26.”
CCG (Scotland) Ltd is the contractor for this development. As part of the social benefits aspect included in all West Dunbartonshire Council contracts, the firm have committed to paying all staff the real living wage and endeavour to use local companies for sub-contracting opportunities where possible. They recruited two employees from West Dunbartonshire in addition to four work placements and curriculum engagement with local schools. They also invested £1500 each in Bonhill Community Garden and Bonhill Community Council.
