Homing in: partnership pledge to build 16,000 homes

Anything you can do: Housing Associations will match council home for home

Edinburgh is set for a major housing boost after the Council’s ambitious plan to build thousands of new homes was matched by partner housing associations.

Six Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) have pledged to match the City of Edinburgh Council’s plan to build 8,000 homes, which will bring 16,000 affordable and low cost homes to the city over the next decade. Representatives joined senior Council officials at the City Chambers today to officially back their commitment to the partnership.

The housing associations, which are not-for-profit, are Castle Rock Edinvar, Dunedin Canmore, Hillcrest, Home Group, the Link Group, and Port of Leith. They met Council Leader Councillor Andrew Burns, Depute Leader Sandy Howat, Chief Executive Andrew Kerr, Health, Social Care and Housing Convener Councillor Ricky Henderson and Housing Leader, Councillor Cammy Day.

Alister Steele, from Castle Rock Edinvar, said: “Housing associations operating in Edinburgh are pleased to match the Council’s pledge and commit to delivering 8,000 much needed affordable homes in Edinburgh. As part of Places for People, Castle Rock Edinvar is already committed to developing 1,000 New Homes for Edinburgh. Extending our contribution in collaboration with fellow housing associations and the City of Edinburgh Council allows us all to make a significant contribution to the housing supply, wellbeing and economic growth in the city.”

Ewan Fraser, Chief Executive of Dunedin Canmore, which is part of Scotland’s largest housing care and property management organisation, Wheatley Group, said: “We are absolutely determined to play our part, working with the City Council and other housing associations, in tackling the acute shortage of affordable housing in Edinburgh.

“The plans unveiled today represent an outstanding example of partnership working and we are delighted to announce that, as part of our commitment to maintaining and improving communities across the city, we will build at least 1,000 good-quality, energy-efficient homes in the capital over the next decade.”

Councillor Day said: “We all know about the acute shortage of affordable homes in the capital; a shortage that’s pushing house prices out of the reach of those on low to middle incomes, increasing rents in the private sector and creating a cost of living crisis that’s putting real pressure on people across Edinburgh. This fantastic joint commitment will see the Council and its partners build on their current successes and accelerate house building to provide the increase in affordable homes that Edinburgh so desperately needs.

“This joint commitment won’t just deliver 16,000 homes – we expect it to generate benefits to the local and national economy of around £4bn, create over 3,000 jobs and bring in additional council tax revenue to help fund the delivery of essential services for the people of Edinburgh. Reducing the cost of living for tenants and building more affordable homes are key priorities for the Council.”

Almost 150 households bid for every Council and housing association home available to let in Edinburgh, and the city’s population is set to grow by up to 30% over the next twenty years.

The Council was already committed to delivering 3,000 affordable and low cost homes on 22 sites in the city, including investing over £100 million on lending to nine Limited Liability Partnerships set up through the Government’s National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative.

Save Canonmills hopes smashed by Reporter’s wrecking ball

Canonmills campaigners ‘devastated’ by reporter’s decision – but the fight goes on

The Scottish Government’s Environment and Appeals Division has found in favour of an appeal to demolish buildings on Canonmills Bridge. The decision to allow the appeal overturns a decision made by city ouncillors last summer and paves the way for a controversial new development which protesters says will dwarf surrounding buildings in the popular conservation area (writes Dave Pickering).

Edinburgh North & Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm called the decision ‘unbelievable’.

The traditional single-storey building by Canonmills Bridge has become a popular social hub and campaigners argued that it’s demolition and the subsequent redevelopment would ‘destroy the harmonious character of the area’. They maintain that the proposed new building clearly would not preserve or enhance the conservation area – a key planning consideration.

The Save Canonmills Bridge campaigners fought an energetic campaign against the demolition last year, and their hard work was rewarded in August when the single-storey building at the centre of the planning application was granted a reprieve by the city’s planning committee.

However developers Glovart Holdings Ltd launched an appeal against the decision in November, and today the Save Canonmills Bridge team received the news they had been dreading: that Glovart’s appeal had been upheld – and that the demolition will go ahead.

It’s a bitter blow for the campaigners who worked so hard – and a kick in teeth for the thousands who signed petitions and supported the battle. However campaign leader Jan Anderson, who launched an online petition which attracted nearly 5000 signatures, vows that the fight will go on.

She said: “The Reporter has concurred with the owners and developers, rather than the unanimous planning committee and 7,000+ signatories we gathered – demolition of 1-6 Canonmills Bridge has been approved.

“The Reporter states: ‘the demolition of the building would comply with the development plan.’ It is ‘atypical‘ and ‘peripheral to the conservation area.’ Demolition is approved subject to conditions.’ This ain’t over yet.”

The reporter’s decision is final, but Save Canonmills Bridge campaigners may have one last throw of the dice. They could choose to petition the Court of Session – but their appeal would have to be made on a point of law. The group has six weeks to make that decision.

Edinburgh North and Leith MP Dierdre Brock said: “This is a very disappointing decision. The fantastic local campaign to save 1-6 Canonmills Bridge demonstrated the strength of feeling against demolition.

“The planned development is an inappropriate size for the site, and will close down the sense of space in this central hub area of Canonmills.

“It’s very sad that a building with such character will be bulldozed for a bland housing block. I’ll continue to support the campaign as they consider whether there are any further avenues to halt this decision.”

Childcare Academy information sessions

We still have places available for our Childcare Academy Information Sessions on:

Monday 8 February @ 10am
Wednesday 17 February @ 1.30pm

If you would like to book a place to come along and hear more about the Academy, ask any questions and take away an application pack, please do not hesitate to contact me on the number below or Barbara Webster on 311 6926.

2016 CA Publicity Poster 16+

Audrey O’Neill

Training Administrator, North Edinburgh Childcare

Tel: 311 6931

Follow us on Twitter @NEChildcare

Like our Training Services on Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-

Granton Youth Centre: Community Meeting

TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY, 5.30pm

We are holding a short community meeting on Tuesday 2^nd February from 5.30pm in the Main Hall at GYC to raise awareness and discuss issues and concerns regarding the City of Edinburgh Council Revenue Grant budget cuts and finances moving forward for GYC.

Young people, volunteers, staff and the wider community have been invited to attend and we warmly invite yourself. The purpose of this meeting is as follows:-

1. Information regarding City of Edinburgh Council Budget Cuts

2. Impact on GYC’s work, services and staff.

3. How you can continue to support GYC in 2016/2017

4. Contacting Edinburgh Council on behalf of GYC, to raise concerns

We sincerely hope you can come along and offer any input on the evening.

If you are able to attend we would appreciate it if you can please let us know by return email.

Wendy@grantonyouth.com

0131 467 5854

Granton Youth Centre, 3-11 West Granton Road, Edinburgh EH5 1HG

www.grantonyouth.com

The worst of times: 60,000 Scots families receive emergency aid

£81 million support for Scots in crisis

More than 178,000 vulnerable households, including around 59,000 families with children, have received essential help to buy everyday products like nappies, food and cookers through the Scottish Welfare Fund. Continue reading The worst of times: 60,000 Scots families receive emergency aid