Monday November 9th 2026
Chestnut Grove homeowners, whose homes are built with RAAC crumbling concrete panels, have campaigned for a regeneration plan involving two vacant school sites in Craigshill, Livingston (copyright: Chestnut Grove Resident association)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
Homeowners in RAAC affected bungalows in Livingston have prepared radical plans to regenerate Craigshill.
Owners and tenants of Chestnut Grove have come together to lobby Almond Housing, Scottish Government and West Lothian Council.
The plan by the residents ties Chestnut Grove to two housing development sites in Craigshill.
Chestnut Grove bungalows are wholly constructed of RAAC crumbling concrete panels, the now discredited building material used by local authorities across the UK.
Ashleigh Mitchell of Chestnut Grove Homeowners Action Group told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she was disappointed that her street had not been specifically named as a priority for regeneration in the latest Strategic Housing Investment Plan which is set to be published.
The plan, also known as the SHIP, is an annual document which sets out development plans for the coming year. The latest plan talks in general terms about development of former school sites at Beatlie campus and Letham Primary in Craigshill, but makes no mention of the proposed link to Chestnut Grove.
Ashleigh, who leads the homeowners group with Rosalind Bell, told the LDRS: “The only viable option for Chestnut Grove is for regeneration. The action group are disappointed that Chestnut Grove has been omitted by name from the draft SHIP priority tables.
She added: “We are a unique unified community block ready to move forward and the Scottish government are waiting”
“We are asking the council to amend the SHIP submission to name Chestnut Grove as priority 1 before it’s sent to the Scottish government.
“The Scottish Government is ready if the council puts it forward. The action group looks forward to hearing the outcome on the 10 November.”
Ashleigh said the Chestnut Grove home owners action group are offering the the Scottish Government the “perfect number 1 test pilot case for the new More Homes agency for ‘mixed tenure regeneration site viability” as a case study.
Ashleigh pointed out that tying Chestnut Grove to the school sites would save the council and housing association money as residents would not need decanting while new homes were built, and renewed utilities including gas lines in the area make it much more attractive for future redevelopment.
She added: “Utility upgrades are happening live right now on Craigshill boundaries by SGN and it will be finished early 2027 for the gas upgrades, making the Chestnut Grove site absolutely viable and attractive in 2027.”
Ashleigh said the joint working project for Chestnut Grove could be the blueprint to solving Scotland’s housing crisis. She has worked with council officers, the Housing association and Scottish Government housing staff to develop the plans for the regeneration of the area.
At a meeting of the Housing Services PDSP Conservative councillor Alison Adamson supported the home-owners calling for their plan to be a named priority.
A council spokesperson said: “While concerns regarding Chestnut Grove are recognised, the site has not been identified in the current SHIP because there is no defined regeneration project at this stage. Almond Housing Association is currently undertaking early feasibility work on a number of potential regeneration opportunities within Craigshill.
“Any future proposals will require detailed assessment of viability, funding, affordability and deliverability before they can be considered for inclusion in the SHIP. As such, it would be premature to identify Chestnut Grove as a Priority 1 development site at this time.
“The Council will continue to engage with Almond Housing Association as feasibility work progresses, and any future proposals will be assessed on their merits, taking account of housing priorities, deliverability, value for money and statutory obligations.
“It is important to note the SHIP is reviewed annually which allows emerging projects to be considered as they progress.”
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