Derelict brownfield land in Leith is set to be transformed into two new five-star housing developments by Barratt Homes.
The UK’s largest housebuilder has started construction of 212 homes on Baltic Street and plans for a 115 home development on South Fort Street are well underway. Named Merchant Quay and Heron Bank respectively, the new developments are expected to generate nearly 60 new jobs and create positions for at least five apprentices.
The construction of Heron Bank and Merchant Quay will also serve to boost the local economy; an economic footprint calculation predicts the developments will add more than £30m in financial output over their build period.
Both developments will also revitalise brownfield sites, with Merchant Quay previously housing a builders yard and Heron Bank home to a steel fabrication company. The regeneration these developments provide will only add to the already booming metropolitan progression of Leith.
Building in these areas will also provide a significant contribution of much needed Affordable Housing units; Merchant Quay will deliver 43 plots, a mix of one, two and three-bed apartments, in collaboration with Port of Leith Housing Association, and Heron Bank will provide 24 units, the mix of which will be determined throughout the planning process.
Barratt Homes has established itself as one of the biggest contributors to Edinburgh’s Affordable Housing Policy, with over 1,000 units constructed to date.
Alison Condie, managing director for Barratt Homes East Scotland, said: “We have a long and proud association providing housing in the east of Scotland and Barratt is a popular and trusted source of five-star quality homes for buyers.
“We’re looking forward to expanding our offering in the region with these new developments on South Fort Street and Baltic Street, and helping to regenerate these locations.”
Work on both developments is now underway and it is expected that opportunities to move into one, two and three-bedroom apartments in Leith will be available in early 2022.
Further details and updates on Merchant Quay and Heron Bank are available on the Barratt Homes website.
Local housebuilder awarded 5 stars for customer satisfaction for a record 12 years in a row
Local housebuilder Barratt Homes East Scotland has received the maximum 5-star rating in the new Home Builders Federation (HBF) annual New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey.
The number of stars awarded is based on customer responses to the question “would you recommend your builder to a friend”? For Barratt to have been awarded 5 stars means that over 90% of its customers would recommend their homes to a friend.
This is the 12th year in a row that Barratt has achieved the 5-star rating – a record unmatched by any other major national housebuilder.
It comes on top of the recent Supreme Win at the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards, where Barratt site manager Kirk Raine scooped the top award out of a possible 11,000 site managers across the country – marking the fifth Supreme win for Barratt site managers in six years.
The HBF New Homes Survey is one of the largest surveys of its type in the country and is completed by nearly 50,000 people who have recently bought a new build home. The simple 1-5 star rating system was developed to give customers an easy to view ranking system of which housebuilders have the most satisfied customers.
The high satisfaction rates are a testament to Barratt’s commitment to building high quality homes and great places that its customers are proud to call home. The customer is at the heart of everything Barratt does, and it is this focus on making customers happy which results in such high recommendation scores.
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said: “The survey demonstrates that the industry is delivering an excellent level of service in the opinion of over 90% of its customers.
“The fact that we have seen four successive years of improved satisfaction levels shows the clear focus builders have been putting on the customer. That this level of satisfaction has been delivered during a pandemic that saw sites closed and builders unable to access homes for a period makes it even more of an achievement.
“To achieve a 5-star rating, meaning that at least 90% of your customers would recommend you, is a fantastic achievement that requires commitment from everyone within the organisation.”
Alison Condie, managing director at Barratt Homes East Scotland, said:“We’re incredibly proud to have been announced a 5-star housebuilder for a record 12 years in a row.
“We work hard to look after our customers, both before and after they buy their new homes, so it’s great to know that our customers rate us so highly, and that so many of them would recommend us to a friend. We will continue to give all of our customers a 5-star service.”
Barratt is currently building a range of quality new homes across the east of Scotland.
The Help to Buy Scotland scheme may be discontinued, but this doesn’t mean first-time buyers are being left out in the cold. Barratt Homes is reassuring prospective homeowners that there is other help available for getting on the property ladder.
The First Home Fund is an alternative shared equity scheme offered by the Scottish Government that provides up to £25,000 to all first-time buyers towards the purchase of a home – great news for anyone hoping to make the move this year.
The property market can be challenging to navigate, particularly for those doing so for the first time, so Barratt Homes is reducing this stress by addressing some commonly asked questions and reassuring that the door to owning a property is still very much open.
Anne Ross, sales director for Barratt Homes East Scotland said: “We’re here to make the process of buying a dream home as easy as possible, and this includes sharing useful information about the funding options available.
“While the Help to Buy Scheme is discontinued, we’re here to remind people that the First Home Fund is available and that the journey to owning a home doesn’t have to stall.”
If the virus has shown us anything it’s that a comfortable home plays a big role in wellbeing. A new home is a decision not to be taken lightly – and considerations like flexible living spaces, travel connections and the surrounding area have taken on new meaning during the pandemic.
If you’re looking to buy in Edinburgh using the First Home Fund, Barratt Homes’ Mayburn Walk(below) offers a variety of three and four-bedroom homes in Loanhead, to the south of Edinburgh.
With quick access to the Edinburgh bypass, park and ride options and regular bus services, Mayburn Walk offers the chance to own a house and private garden without having to compromise on location.
A stone’s throw from the Pentland Hills, downtime can be spent exploring some of Scotland’s finest hillwalking trails, all within the local area.
Flexible living
We’re spending more time in our homes, and they really have become our sanctuaries. Every design decision made by Barratt has been carefully considered to get the most out of the space. Homes such as the three-bedroom Coull include open plan kitchen/dining spaces with direct garden access, separate lounge space and bright and open rooms that flood with natural light. Ideal for first time buyers, the third single bedroom can be transformed into a private work space, fitness area or hobby room.
Also available are homes in the stylish Bonnyton and Wemyss styles, which include ample storage and utility cupboards, two double bedrooms, a family bathroom and private gardens.
The numbers
Homes at Mayburn Walk are available through the First Home Fund – perfect for a professional couple looking to make their first move together in a house that will grow with them. You can buy with a 5% deposit, 75% mortgage and 20% interest-free equity government loan.
Prices start at £235,995, so your costs could look a bit like this:
Property price:
£235,995
Buyer depositMortgage
£11,800£199,195
Scottish Government loan:
£25,000
Barratt Homes’ First Home Fund Facts
When can I apply?
The First Home Fund shared equity scheme will re-open for applications on 1 April 2021 and run until 31 March 2022. The most awarded under the scheme to purchase a property is £25,000 but the Government will not charge any interest. Barratt Homes is currently taking reservations for homes under the First Home Fund scheme at Mayburn Walk.
I want to apply but where can I get professional advice?
We always recommend speaking to an independent financial advisor to help you navigate the market and ensure you’re getting the best mortgage deal for you. They’ll help you with your First Home Fund application.
Barratt’s expert sales advisors are on hand to help you choose a property that’s perfect for you, and can direct you to financial advisors in your community to guide you through the purchase.
How much of a deposit do I need?
You’ll typically need just 5% of the value of the property as a minimum, subject to lender requirements.
What other terms to I need to consider?
You’ll need to have secured a minimum mortgage of 25% of the property purchase price. In addition to this, the equity stake from the Scottish Government must not be more than 49% of the property value.
Is there a property price cap?
Unlike the Help to Buy Scheme, there is no cap on the property price, but of course buyers must ensure their ownership is sustainable and affordable for the long term.
For more information on Barratt Homes at Mayburn Walk, or for more advice on the First Home Fund, please visit the website.
LifeCare and Tiphereth have each received a £1,000 donation as part of Barratt Homes East Scotland’s regular Community Fund giveaway.
Elderly care charity, LifeCare, will be using the cash boost from the five-star housebuilder to upskill its frontline workers to better deal with the changes to their working environment caused by COVID-19. For Tiphereth, the donation will help towards the refurbishment of one of its facilities, allowing them to welcome more people back to the organisation’s day service.
LifeCare specialises in dementia care, home care and incare for older people, allowing them to live with dignity. By helping older people keep connected to their communities, and to the things they love and enjoy, Life Care aims to guard the elderly against social isolation and the trap of defining people by dementia, poor mobility or advanced years.
Tiphereth is a unique community in Edinburgh where people with learning difficulties, staff and volunteers work and grow together. Through undertaking work for local community groups as well as their own cookery, art and gardening projects members increase their self-confidence while developing lifelong skills.
Alison Condie, managing director at Barratt East Scotland, said: “LifeCare and Tiphereth carry out incredible work supporting the vulnerable and people with learning difficulties.
“We’re pleased to be able to help them and hope that our donation will allow them continue to provide these crucial and important services through what are difficult times for us all.”
Speaking of the donation Vicki Bradley, Fundraising Manager at LifeCare added:“We are delighted that Barratt Homes has chosen to donate £1,000 to LifeCare.
“The people who use LifeCare services are amongst the most vulnerable in society and many are still shielding, so it is extremely important that our workers are knowledgeable in how to keep their clients and themselves safe. COVID-19 has not only changed the way we work but has added extra costs to all that we do, so we are very grateful to Barratt Homes for their generosity to help us continue to support those who rely on our services.”
Gordon Hudson, Fundraiser Manager at the Tiphereth said: “We would like to extend a huge thank you to Barratt Homes from everyone at Tiphereth. While our residential homes have been able to operate throughout lockdown, getting our day service back to 75% capacity has used up 100% of our staff.
“The donation will go towards bringing an extra building up to normal office standard, allowing us to utilise our locations differently and establish safer smaller groups. This, in turn, will help us welcome more people back, offering respite to parents.”
Now in its second year, the Barratt Homes Community Fund has pledged to donate £1,000 each month to a charity or organisation in the East of Scotland. Charities are nominated by and voted for by employees of Barratt Homes and the focus for the fund continues to be on organisations that improve the quality of life for those living in the area.
The Barratt Homes Community Fund will be continuing into 2021.
