Day: September 22, 2024

Midlothian Council and Cruden celebrated the completion of an energy-efficient Passivhaus development on Scottish Housing Day. 

The milestone marked the official completion of 20 new council flats at St Cuthbert’s on Bonnyrigg High Street, built to the energy-efficient Passivhaus standard.

These flats include assisted living apartments and homes for residents aged 55 and over and were designed by the award-winning architecture firm AHR. The project is part of the most ambitious Passivhaus programme in Scotland, with a total of 182 new homes constructed by Midlothian Council to meet stringent building standards and achieve up to 90% in energy savings.

Councillor Stuart McKenzie, Cabinet Member for Housing commented: “It’s fantastic to see what was once a building site transformed into a modern, attractive development that our tenants are now calling home.

“Hearing first-hand how local people are enjoying warm, comfortable, and energy-efficient homes while helping us make progress towards our net zero target by 2030 is truly inspiring.”

The Passivhaus-certified homes feature bright, spacious interiors designed to reduce energy consumption, with Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems providing fresh air circulation while retaining the heat already generated in the apartments.

With an exterior designed to complement the surrounding architecture, the development seamlessly blends into the local community, enhancing the character of Bonnyrigg High Street.

Fraser Lynes, Managing Director at Cruden, expressed the company’s pleasure in working with Midlothian Council on these new homes: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see tenants already settling in and benefiting from energy-efficient living. This year’s Scottish Housing Day theme, ‘Homes for Life,’ truly reflects what we’ve accomplished here—creating a sustainable, future-proof community that addresses the environmental challenges of tomorrow.

“Knowing we’ve built homes that not only protect the environment but also significantly enhance the comfort and quality of life for residents is what makes projects like this so fulfilling.”

Midlothian Council’s commitment to sustainable housing is part of its wider strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. With this latest Passivhaus development, the council continues to set an example for local authorities across Scotland, providing residents with affordable, energy-efficient homes while supporting environmental goals.

Broxburn residents Stuart and Mhairi Shand conquered the Edinburgh Kiltwalk in support of the National Deaf Children’s Society on Sunday 15 September. 

The couple took part in the Big Stroll Kiltwalk, which started in Musselburgh and passed through Portobello and Leith before finishing at Murrayfield Stadium, where they were greeted by their family. They completed the 11.2-mile course in three hours, 50 minutes.  

They chose to support the National Deaf Children’s Society because their son Tommy was born deaf in April of last year and the family has been receiving ongoing support from the charity.  

They’ve smashed their original fundraising target of £500, with over £1,000 raised so far for the charity, which supports the UK’s 50,000 deaf children and their families. 

Stuart and Mhairi live in Broxburn, West Lothian, with their four children, Amelia, 14, Kian, 11, Annie, 6, and Tommy. 

Stuart said: “The overall experience was amazing. It was a great atmosphere during the event and great to be part of it! Choosing the National Deaf Children’s Society was a no brainer for us.

“The support the charity has given us from day one has been great and the British Sign Language classes have been invaluable in helping us communicate with Tommy. 

“The main inspiration though was Tommy. He’s our wee superhero and we just want to help make his life as easy as possible. He was waiting at the finish line for us but he was sleeping!” 

Hannah Awesome, who supports fundraisers for the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to Stuart and Mhairi for taking on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk for us. We’re all very proud of you. 

“The National Deaf Children’s Society is dedicated to supporting the UK’s 50,000 deaf children and their families. The efforts of selfless fundraisers like Stuart and Mhairi will help us to keep on doing our vital work, now and into the future.” 

The Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee will examine how effective funding deals have been in improving Scotland’s local economies, in a new inquiry launched on Friday.

The Committee has opened a consultation to look at the implementation and effectiveness of Scotland’s City Region and Regional Growth Deals.

These are funding agreements between the Scottish Government, the UK Government and local partners to boost regional economic growth. Calling for views, the Committee aims to find out how the deals have contributed to addressing local issues, and supported development and inclusive growth.

There are currently 12 deals in Scotland, each tailored to local circumstances and priorities. This might include improved broadband and mobile coverage, reducing unemployment or supporting the life sciences industry.

Claire Baker MSP, Convener of the Economy and Fair Work Committee, said: “City Region and Regional Growth Deals have the potential to deliver significant transformations in communities across Scotland by attracting investment, creating new jobs and improving economic growth.

“We would like to understand more about how these impacts have been and are being measured, and how far lessons learned from earlier deals are informing newer deals.

“We’re particularly keen to hear from Scottish businesses to gauge experiences of engaging with local city region deals and about what support has been provided to bid for work.

“As a Committee, we will examine the progress of the Deals so far and identify whether they are delivering what they intended for the people of Scotland.”