Chris Baillie, 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist in the 110m hurdles, helped get the construction work up and running on the £150million City Legacy Homes development to be used as the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Village and as a new neighbourhood for the city thereafter.

Chris was particularly pleased to see the project underway, having helped to ‘press the button’ in the demolition of the original 1960s tower blocks back in 2007, during early preparation works on the site.

The new Village development was launched on 8 June by Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, John Scott, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014, representatives of the City Legacy consortium, along with Chris Baillie and school pupils from Quarry Brae Primary and St Michael’s Primary.

The successful development of the 38.5 hectares site in Dalmarnock will be a key component in the delivery of the Games. The Village will provide accommodation and facilities for 6,500 competitors and officials on a site only three miles from Glasgow City Centre and beside the new M74 extension. The Athletes’ Village will be right on the doorstep of the new spectacular NISA and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

The Athletes’ Village is being built by the City Legacy Consortium and after the Games, the Village will become a desirable new residential community – the first stage will include 304 private houses, 300 homes for rent, 100 homes for mid-market rent and a new 120 bed care home for the elderly. The plans for the Athletes’ Village have high design and environmental standards and will ultimately deliver a desirable new residential neighbourhood within Glasgow’s East End.

Attending the launch, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “It is great to see the Athletes’ Village construction get underway. The Village is the heartbeat of every Games, providing that important home from home for all the athletes as they prepare for the performance of their lives. There has been a lot of input so far from our athletes into the Village planning process and we will continue to work closely with the Organising Committee to ensure that when completed, it offers the best possible athlete experience and resulting performances.”

For more information on the City Legacy Homes development, please visit www.citylegacy.co.uk.