Robin Currie Way
Robin Currie Way, Port Charlotte
West Highland Housing Association
CMA has delivered the majority of new affordable housing on Islay in recent years, including the new homes at Port Charlotte for West Highland Housing Association, six phases at Port Ellen, three separate developments at Bowmore for ACHA, and additional projects at Kilmeny and Keills. Our wider portfolio continues to include both oneoff and multiphase developments across Scotland’s remote and rural areas, with recent completions at Lampson Close in Stirlingshire and Eton Avenue in Dunoon.
In June 2023, Argyll and Bute Council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee declared a Housing Emergency. Funding was secured for 16 new-build homes on the edge of Port Charlotte.
Early engagement with planners highlighted a desire for the new homes to reflect the massing characteristics of adjacent village housing — wider frontages with shallower depths. We reworked our existing WHHA house types to achieve this while retaining the highly efficient, HVNcompliant layouts. The wide housing mix required by WHHA can be challenging on constrained sites, but we resolved this by maintaining consistent aspect ratios for frontfacing units and locating cottage flats further into the development.
As with all CMA housing, we aimed for high sustainability and thermal efficiency, meeting and often exceeding regulatory requirements where economically viable. We incorporated space for future adaptation of groundfloor WCs into shower rooms and followed HVN guidance to ensure longterm flexibility for residents. Our detailing and contractor’s workmanship continue to deliver low airinfiltration rates. As we approach 3 m³/(h·m²)@50 Pa, we are discussing with clients whether to move toward MVHR systems or even PassiveHauslevel performance. The Port Charlotte homes achieved the client’s EPC targets through practical adoption of lowtozerocarbon technologies.
Additional wall and roof lighting improved safety and usability in typically dark corridors and stairwells. Larger windows enhanced natural light and ventilation, supporting residents’ mental and physical wellbeing. Each home includes a small workspace to support remote and flexible working; a significant benefit in rural Argyll communities (As elsewhere).
The Port Charlotte homes are now being handed over. Four properties are delivered as New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE), a tenure mix that has proven highly successful across Islay and the west coast. Demand continues to far exceed supply for all tenures.
