More than 30 pupils from a school in Glasgow enjoyed a morning in the sun — while learning about life on a construction site.
The Primary Seven pupils from Blackfriars Primary School (ictured above) paid a visit to Laurieston Living, a regeneration area in the Gorbals area of the city. As part of the visit, the P7’s learned how the subjects they use every day can be put into practice on a busy site and how varied a career in construction can be.
Developed by award-winning housebuilder Urban Union, Laurieston Living — which welcomed its first residents in 2014 — is a community which is continuing to grow. Community engagement is a key element of Urban Union’s approach, with a formal partnership in place with Blackfriars Primary School which will see quarterly site visits from pupils.
Neil McKay, Managing Director at Urban Union said: “Blackfriars Primary is the closest school to our Laurieston Living development and it is hugely important for us to engage regularly with the pupils there.
“We wanted to show them how the everyday subjects they are taught in school — like maths — come in handy later in life. It was fantastic to see so many pupils at the site and I am sure a few of them will now be interested in a career in construction, while also learning more about the work we are doing and how it is benefiting the wider community.”
Laurieston Living is a £140m revitalisation of the Gorbals area, with plans to deliver a total of four phases over a nine-year period. Phase 1A saw 201 homes constructed for social rent for New Gorbals Housing Association.
Phase 1B delivered a further 108 homes — 39 for Mid Market Rent for New Gorbals Housing Association and 69 for private sale for Urban Union. Phase 1C, completed in December 2018, delivered 55 apartments for New Gorbals Housing Association.
In Phase 2, Urban Union is building 173 private for sale homes. This latest phase is expected to complete by August 2021, and the first residents have already moved into their new properties.
