MANY projects today, whether they are industrial, commercial or

service-based, rely on multi-source funding packages. This is becoming

more commonplace in housing too, where public/private-sector

partnerships are increasingly popular.

Few housing developments however can boast such an august funding

consortium as the Tower Square development in Alloa, where each partner

has become involved because of the project's considerable value to the

community.

The development stands beside the fourteenth-century Alloa Tower where

the landowners, the Erskine family, played host to many noble guests

including Mary Queen of Scots.

Tower Square itself is part of the Mar Policies. Built before the turn

of the century to serve Alloa House, home of the Earl of Mar and Kellie,

it fell into disrepair after the house was demolished in 1959.

Five years ago, Lord Mar gifted the buildings and the five acres of

land to the Alloa Tower Building Preservation Trust, which had been

formed by Clackmannan District Council and the Erskine family.

This particular project is unusual in that all of the funding partners

have come together to create a package of subsidies so that the local

people can buy the homes for a reasonable cost.

The trust, in a joint venture with Ochil View Housing Association, has

converted the stables and servants' quarters into one flat and eleven

two-storey cottages priced between #36,000 and #49,500.

Ochil View's remit is to provide housing for people in need in

Clackmannan District, to provide a greater choice of tenure for those

living in the area, and to upgrade the area through physical

rehabilitation and environmental improvements.

As such, the five-acre site has been given over to several

community-based building developments including Kirkcare Amenity Housing

and the Senile Dementia Care Unit, and the restoration of the Tower

Square is also seen as being beneficial to the community in terms of

both housing and environmental improvement.

If the partnership between Ochil View Housing Association and the

Alloa Tower Building Preservation Trust seems unique, then so is the

funding package.

The agencies involved are Historic Scotland, Scottish Homes, Forth

Valley Enterprise, Clackmannan District Council, Central Regional

Council and Dunfermline Building Society, and together they have footed

a bill of around #800,000.

Historic Scotland provided #124,000 and Scottish Homes grants

subsidised the project to the tune of #180,000. Clackmannan District

Council, Central Regional Council and Forth Valley Enterprise all

assisted with further grants, and private sector funding in the form of

a loan has come from the Dunfermline Building Society.

For Ochil View Housing Association, the restoration of the buildings

and subsequent development of houses at Tower Square, has been an ideal

opportunity to widen the choice of housing it can offer to local people.

Because the development has been subsidised, local people already on

the Housing Association's list will get priority, together with those

who are tenants at present but would like to become first time

owner/occupiers. Even those people moving in to the area and

contributing to the local economy will be considered.

The original buildings were built in two phases at the beginning of

the nineteenth century. They were in a state of total dereliction and

had been unoccupied for a considerable time, with the exception of one

house which was -- and is -- still occupied.

Great effort was made by Heath, architects and stone consultants of

Edinburgh, to retain the authentic period style.

Bob Heath says: ''This is a small development of individual houses

that fit into a historic setting yet provide modern amenities, including

central heating and modern kitchens.

''There are no two houses alike: the accomodation varies from unit to

unit because of the constraints of the shaping of the original

buildings.''

All of the new work, including the dormers, roof lights, porches and

windows has been sympathetically designed, not as a pastiche or a copy.

This approach is one which has the approval of Historic Scotland, one of

the major funders.

Bob Heath adds: ''We have put roofs of West Highland slate on to the

original profile and repaired and repointed the stonework, which was

local sandstone. We have also used stone from County Durham, the nearest

currently available stone, to repair and infill open cartsheds.

''In the lower storey of one building we are creating a visitors'

centre and tearoom for the adjacent Tower. This this will be run by the

Trust, which is also retaining two houses.''

The Tower Square development in Alloa is due to be completed this

month.