Boswall community's united in celebration!

The Association bought the Granton United Church site in 2010  and was committed to providing a centre for a local congregation as part of its  building plans. The development, built with £1m funding from the City of Edinburgh Council, has been shortlisted for a Scottish Home Award  for Community Partnership of the Year.

There are two one-bedroom, 10 two-bedroom and three  three-bedroom flats in the Boswall Parkway development . More than two-thirds of the properties feature solar thermal heating provided by panels located on the roof.

An opening ceremony was held at the Granton United Church last week and was attended by around 30 people including PoLHA  representatives, contractors and tenants, as well as local MSP Malcolm  Chisholm.

Cathy  King, Head of Housing and Regeneration at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This development  is a great example of the council and Port of Leith Housing Association working  in partnership with the local community to deliver much-needed affordable homes.  The existing building has now been transformed into 15 energy-efficient flats  and a purpose-built church hall which everyone will be able to benefit from.”

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of PoLHA,  said: “This site, incorporating a church, is one that’s completely  unique for us and we’re delighted to have been able to  develop a centre as part of our plans. Creating communities in which people want to live is more than simply providing a roof over people’s  heads: it’s providing good-quality, energy-efficient housing people are proud of, and it’s supporting individuals, families  and local groups to help bring people together and be a  community.”

Granton United Church has around 35 members. Treasurer Ted Wallace  said: “The members all seem happy with the new  centre and we’ve settled in.”

Resident Paula McVay added: “Our new home is great and we’re really happy  with the energy-efficient measures.”