AN ALLOA housing development renowned for its accessibility for people with dementia has been named as a finalist at a national awards scheme.

Townhead House on Primrose Street has been shortlisted for Development of the Year – Medium at the Homes for Scotland (HFS) 2024 awards.

The development opened in May last year, providing up to 60 affordable units for social renting, with a keen focus on those living with dementia.

Now, the project has earned itself national praise, with developers Campion Homes and Kingdom Housing Association set to head to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre next month to find out if they are overall winners.

Tricia Hill, development director at Kingdom Housing Association, said: “I’m delighted Townhead House at Primrose Street is a finalist at the Homes for Scotland Awards.

“We worked closely with a range of partners on this project, including Campion Homes and Clackmannanshire Council.

“The project’s architects, Bracewell Stirling, worked with Architecture and Design Scotland and Stirling University’s Dementia Services Development Centre to produce unique homes that are dementia friendly and help people live independently in their own homes for longer.

“Our mission at the Kingdom Group is to provide more than a home and developments like Primrose Street, together with our wraparound services, help us achieve that for our customers.

“This is an important development in the approach to meeting a range of housing needs and I’m proud that Kingdom is a part of it.”

Housing Minister Paul McLennan was on hand last May to officially open the development, with all flats inside available for social rent.

The layout of the development is a cause for pride, with open plan layouts, full height glazing and appropriate use of colour, materials, signage and landscaping making Townhead House an easily navigated environment.

David Knight, chair of the independent judging panel, added: “With this representing my final year in tenure as chair, I have been honoured to be a part of the judging process for these quality awards, with 2024 representing another high calibre of entrants.

“Having now also completed the site visit and interview process, my fellow judges and I now face the difficult task of determining the winners.

“Given the high standards and passion of those who bring these wide-ranging developments, processes and practices to life, this is going to be an extremely tough job.”