MacLehose Court
15:00,15 December 2025
Blackwood Homes and Care is actively responding to significant flooding at the Maclehose Court housing development in Greenock, following prolonged and extreme weather conditions across Inverclyde and the wider area as Storm Bram swept the country.
Videos and images of flooding at Maclehose Court, as well as across the wider area affected by amber weather warnings, have been circulating on social media. The flooding at Maclehose Court is not an isolated incident, with multiple flooding events reported locally during this period of extreme weather.
Initial assessments indicate that flooding in the area has been caused by two contributing factors: exceptional and sustained rainfall associated with the storm, and a blockage affecting a culvert within the local drainage network. These combined issues have significantly increased water levels at the development.
Blackwood staff have been on site throughout the night and remain on site today, supporting tenants and coordinating the response alongside Scottish Water, Inverclyde Council and emergency services. Emergency services, including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, attended the site overnight.
A tanker remains on site and has been actively removing water from the development. This intervention has dramatically reduced water levels and continues to play a critical role in stabilising the situation while further investigations are progressed.
The majority of the directly affected tenants have been safely decanted to alternative accommodation. There has been some reluctance to move from the final two households. One household has been moved today to a suitable temporary home. The remaining household is currently in discussions and is expected to move shortly to local accommodation; however, this will be their choice should they wish to do so.
Housing and property staff are on site today, meeting directly with tenants to provide updates, reassurance and practical support. Where tenants require immediate assistance, including groceries or essential supplies, this support is being arranged. Blackwood contractors were on site to deal with the immediate situation, and the situation continues to be closely monitored in partnership with relevant agencies.
It has been advised that up to 50,000 litres of water must be pumped from the site before camera surveys can be carried out to inspect the drainage system and identify the cause and location of the blockage. Persistent heavy rainfall, ongoing amber weather warnings and widespread local flooding continue to make this extremely challenging.
Blackwood is actively working with Inverclyde Council and other partners to coordinate the redirection of water so that access can be gained to the affected area. This includes planning for temporary road closures and traffic management measures, such as temporary traffic lights, to allow this work to be carried out safely. This is a complex and substantial operation, and progress remains heavily dependent on weather conditions.
The organisation’s overriding priority remains the safety and wellbeing of its tenants, and Blackwood will continue to take all necessary steps to support those affected throughout this ongoing incident.
20:00,14 December 2025
Blackwood Homes and Care continues to actively respond to flooding at MacLehose Court, Greenock, following prolonged and extreme weather conditions across Inverclyde and the wider area.
A tanker has been on site throughout the day and will remain in operation overnight. Water levels are significantly improved compared to earlier today, and the situation is being closely monitored.
Blackwood staff are on site overnight, with colleagues alternating shifts to ensure a continuous presence. Staff have checked in with all tenants, offering reassurance and providing essentials where required. At this time, tenants have been advised to remain in their homes.
Blackwood continues to work closely with partner agencies including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Inverclyde Council and Scottish Water, as part of the coordinated response. Flooding across the local area remains widespread, and amber weather warnings remain in place.
This is an ongoing situation, with conditions subject to change. A further update will be provided tomorrow.
The safety and wellbeing of tenants remains Blackwood’s absolute priority, and the organisation will continue to take all necessary steps to support those affected.
13:00, 14 December 2025
Blackwood Homes and Care is actively responding to significant and escalating flooding at the MacLehose Court housing development in Greenock, following prolonged and extreme weather conditions across Inverclyde and the wider area.
Blackwood staff were on site last night and remain on site today. This is an emergency situation, with conditions continuing to change. Staff are supporting tenants and coordinating closely alongside the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Inverclyde Council, Scottish Water and other emergency responders.
Flooding at Maclehose Court is not an isolated incident. There are multiple flooding events across the local area, and amber weather warnings remain in place. The ongoing severe weather is significantly impacting conditions on site.
Blackwood staff remain on site at this time, with tankers in operation as part of the immediate response. The situation is evolving, and actions are being taken in real time to manage risk and support tenants.
The organisation’s overriding priority remains the safety and wellbeing of its tenants, and Blackwood will continue to take all necessary steps to support those affected throughout this ongoing and developing incident.
The Blackwood Blueprint for Independent Living Has Launched
We are delighted to announce the successful launch of the Blackwood Blueprint for Independent Living.
Independent living is at a crossroads. With demand for accessible housing rising, pressure on health and social care services, and the political landscape shifting, there is an urgent need to look ahead and take action.
The Blueprint is our response: a vision shaped by decades of experience and innovation, highlighting what works across the sector and setting out 10 key recommendations for policy, housing, care, and communities.
At the launch event, attendees heard directly from leading voices in housing, care, and academia about why this matters and how we can collectively move forward.
If you couldn’t join us on the day — or if you’d like to explore the ideas in more detail — you can now read the Blueprint in full.
👉 Read the Blackwood Blueprint for Independent Living here
Defibrillator installed at Blackwood development to mark 30 years
16/07/2025
St Leonards Court Marks 30 Years with Life-Saving Community Project
Tenants and staff at Blackwood’s St Leonards Court in Ayr are celebrating three decades of community spirit by coming together to install a life-saving defibrillator – a vital addition sparked by local concerns and brought to life through fundraising efforts and support from Blackwood.
With the nearest device previously nearly 2km away, the community stepped up to make this new defibrillator a reality, ensuring safety and peace of mind for residents and neighbours alike.
Read more about this inspiring story on Scottish Housing News
Read The Article Here
World Youth Skills Day
15/07/2025
World Youth Skills Day celebrates the importance of equipping young people with the essential skills they need for the workplace. At Blackwood, we are proud to support the next generation and are always looking for ways to empower young people to explore rewarding careers in the care industry.
As a signatory of the Young Person’s Guarantee, we’ve committed to reducing the barriers that young people face when starting out in their careers. This includes supporting skill development, delivering class talks, and offering apprenticeships to those taking their first steps into the world of work.
Our Organisational Development Manager, Fiona Ralph, has been doing fantastic work through her visits to schools across Scotland. Her sessions are full of real-life insights into the care sector and highlight Blackwood’s innovative, technology-led approach.
Fiona said: “The idea of using robotics in care sparked interest in the young people I spoke to and encouraged them to think about how care roles might change in the future.”
We also spoke to some of our brilliant apprentices, who shared their experiences of working at Blackwood.
Aaron Fraser, currently completing a customer service apprenticeship, described the office environment as “very youth friendly” and added that he was pleasantly surprised by how it was “more exciting than the usual stereotypes of office work.”
We’re proud to be a real-life example of how dynamic and diverse a modern work environment can be.
Ailee Smith, who recently completed her apprenticeship, highlighted how flexible and supportive the experience has been:
“My manager was great with supporting me to look at different parts of the business so I could have a clearer idea of my options.”
At Blackwood, we aim to attract more young people by offering a supportive and inclusive workplace, even for those still figuring out their career path. Our goal is to ensure every apprentice has the chance to build a successful and exciting future.
We are both excited and proud that young people at Blackwood are not only learning valuable skills — but are being inspired to shape the future of inclusive care.
Here at Blackwood, we remain committed to investing in young minds and staying true to our pledge to inspire and support the next generation of care professionals.
✍️ This post was written by Elena Farrugia, who is currently on her summer placement with Blackwood while studying Marketing Management and Psychology at the University of Sussex. Thank you, Elena!