Tag: build to rent

Housing: Newcraighall leading the way on Build-to-Rent

  • Cullross Living launches – Scotland’s first dedicated Build-to-Rent (BTR) business, fully rolling out in 2026.
  • Newcraighall expansion: 220 new homes, including 57 BTR units and 163 affordable homes in partnership with Hillcrest Homes.
  • Backed by Shawbrook – specialist funding enabling Cullross Living to put Build-to-Rent at the heart of Scotland’s housing future.
  • Sustainable living: fossil fuel-free, energy-efficient homes with solar PV panels, designed around a 20-minute neighbourhood.

Scottish-based housing specialists Cullross Ltd have launched a further expansion to its Newcraighall site as part of a dedicated new business arm, Cullross Living.  

Cullross Living will focus exclusively on delivering Build-to-Rent (BTR) communities across Scotland, helping to grow this fast-emerging sector.

At Newcraighall, 57 homes, around 25% of the development, have been designated for BTR, offering a diverse mix of one-bedroom flats through to spacious four-bedroom townhouses. Unlike traditional schemes built for sale, BTR homes are designed from the outset for long-term renting, providing professionally managed, high-quality housing that meets the changing needs of modern tenants.

The project is backed by funding from Shawbrook Bank, enabling Cullross Living to position Build-to-Rent at the forefront of Scotland’s housing future. 

The Newcraighall development, approved by the City of Edinburgh Council in 2023, will deliver 220 new homes east of Glennie Road. The scheme includes a mix of flats, colony flats, and townhouses, with 163 affordable homes (74%) provided in partnership with Hillcrest Homes and the remainder for private rent. Works are well underway on site, with the first units being completed in Q3 2026. 

Cullross Living’s move into Build-to-Rent underlines its commitment to tackling Scotland’s housing emergency, with Cullross Living set to launch fully in 2026 as the first dedicated BTR business of its kind in the country. With both the Scottish Government and 13 local authorities declaring housing emergencies, the need for high-quality new homes has never been greater.

Newcraighall will form part of a sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood, offering schools, green spaces, play parks and a railway station within easy reach, alongside active travel connections to retail and education hubs.

The homes themselves will be spacious, energy-efficient and fossil fuel-free, featuring high-quality finishes and solar PV panels to help reduce bills and boost performance. Designed with both tenants and the environment in mind, the development blends modern living with long-term sustainability.

The development will also feature a linear park and community allotments, creating welcoming outdoor spaces for both residents and the wider community. These green features will enhance local ecology and biodiversity, providing a richer habitat for wildlife. A new active travel route will connect directly to Musselburgh Train Station and the adjacent cycle network, improving accessibility and encouraging sustainable travel.

Mark Beaton, Director at Cullross Living, said: “It’s become fashionable for everyone, including the Scottish Government, to decry a housing emergency but not follow up with how to tackle Scotland’s chronic undersupply of homes.  

“BTR represents a fast-paced, exciting, and pioneering solution to get homes to people and families who need them. BTR are homes exclusively made to rent, meaning dedicated housing stock that provides a faster, energised and adaptive solution to the issues keenly felt today. 

“Cullross Living is dedicated to pioneering BTR as a solution. Our sites will offer tenants higher-quality, purpose-built homes with professional management, secure long-term tenancies and predictable rents, promoting a better living experience and a sense of community. 

“We are delighted to be launching Cullross Living in 2026, and happier still that we can expand on the exceptional work delivering for Edinburgh with our Newcraighall site. 

“The housing emergency is not going to be resolved overnight, and we continue to work with our stakeholders, partners, and supply chain to continue to deliver new homes and play our part in addressing this. We have further opportunities in the pipeline and will provide more details in the coming months.” 

Douglas Spowart, Relationship Director at Shawbrook Bank, said: “We are delighted to support Cullross Living with their Newcraighall development.

“With demand for housing far outstripping supply, Build-to-Rent has a vital role to play in tackling the shortage by delivering high-quality homes at pace.

“At Shawbrook, we are committed to backing innovative developers like Cullross, and this partnership reflects our broader focus on sustainable housing projects that deliver not only much-needed homes, but also vibrant, resilient communities.”

Councils urged to harness investment to meet growing rental crisis

A leading trade body is urging newly-elected Scottish Councils to embrace investment in build to rent (BTR) and co-living to help address the current housing crisis, addressing nationwide shortages of rental stock and providing additional housing supply to help meet housing targets.

The call comes from the UK Apartment Association (UKAA), which recently launched in Scotland at an event in Glasgow.

BTR is a relatively new model for creating new homes in the UK, where all the properties are built for rent, not for sale and are located in close proximity to amenities, places of work and transport links.

Co-living is a type of communal living in which residents get a private bedroom, with the opportunity to share meals and discussions in common living areas.

Data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) shows that in Scotland demand for rental housing had risen by over a third in the last three months, while supply had dropped by around 50 per cent, leading to an expectation that rents in Scotland will rise faster than in England and Wales.

However, the pipeline for BTR in Edinburgh and Glasgow represents just 6.7 per cent and 10 per cent of current private rented sector households, respectively. There is great capacity therefore for growth given the pipelines in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds represent 29.6 per cent, 15.5 per cent and 13.1 per cent of current PRS households

BTR schemes in Glasgow include proposals for 324 homes at Buchanan Wharf and 685 BTR and co-Living homes at Portcullis House, with 338 homes at Skyliner and 476 homes at Fountainbridge in Edinburgh.

Brendan Geraghty, CEO of the UKAA commented: “BTR and co-living offer a tremendous opportunity for the thousands of people looking for a good place to rent, as well as councils wanting to revitalise neighbourhoods while solving the housing crisis in their area.

“Scotland is perfectly placed to look to models of living that are already popular across Europe and harness investment from organisations like pension providers to fund affordable, high-quality homes with a long-term value.

“We are witnessing massive demand for a new form of housing because so many people don’t see the traditional housing market as working for them. But the supply just isn’t there to meet the need. Managing rents can’t solve the fundamental issues in the market so it is time to focus on really delivering a supply of sustainable homes in sustainable locations.

“There is an opportunity for newly elected councillors to take the time to really understand and fully embrace BTR and co-living as having a critical part to play in helping to solve the housing crisis, enhancing quality and choice in the private residential sector.”

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce commented: “BTR and co-living are delivering high-quality housing, which is desperately needed, and will serve to address increasing demand. Innovative approaches to housing such as this are to be greatly welcomed and will also serve to retain and attract skilled young people to our cities.

“Glasgow City Council’s City Centre Living Strategy, for example, outlines a target to double the city centre’s population to 40,000 over the next 15 years and increasing density in the city centre is essential to its long- term success and sustainability. BTR is a key element in delivering this.”

Gillian McLees, UKAA Scotland Chair, commented: “2022 is set to be a pivotal year in the BTR sector in Scotland with the launch of landmark schemes to the public and long awaited buildings becoming operational.

“The UKAA and the UKAA Scotland Steering Committee are committed to the success of this sector and providing the rented homes that Scotland desperately needs.”

HUB and Bridges submit plans for Beaverhall Build-To-Rent development

Developer HUB and Bridges Fund Management (“Bridges”), a specialist sustainable and impact investor, have submitted plans for a residential-led development on Beaverhall Road.

The scheme will provide 205 Build to Rent homes, including 52 affordable homes, as well as creative workspace co-designed with locals and a new publicly accessible courtyard.

The proposals for Beaverhall Road will replace an existing warehouse building, with a contemporary scheme that maintains the site’s status as a hub for the local creative community, while bringing new homes to the area.

New public realm, Makers Yard, will sit at the heart of the scheme, acting as a focal point for both residents and commercial tenants, as well as neighbours. The scheme will also feature a large mural, displayed on one of the external walls.

As with all HUB and Bridges projects, people and planet are at the heart of the scheme. The new development makes efficient use of a brownfield city centre site and will deliver ‘tenure-blind’ homes for all ages, meaning all residents’ homes will be of the same high quality.

The plans exceed current Scottish sustainability regulations and include a communal air source heat pump to provide environmentally responsible heating for the entire building and a biodiverse green roof.

Designed by architects shedkm, the scheme has been developed in close collaboration with the local community and current businesses, with the ground floor creative workspace co-designed by the existing tenants.

Situated in Canonmills, the proposed development is within easy reach of the city centre, while benefiting from a sense of community created by the area’s existing amenities.

Situated within walking distance from both Stockbridge, close to the Royal Botanic Gardens, and Leith, which Time Out recently named one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, the HUB and Bridges scheme will allow residents to explore the best that the city has to offer.

Tom Valente, Development Manager at HUB, said: “We are hugely excited to have submitted plans for one of our first schemes in Edinburgh.

“We were struck by the vibrancy of the creative community in the area and knew immediately that we wanted to maintain that by placing studios and maker spaces at the heart of the development.

“The mix of Build to Rent and creative workspace is one that we know works fantastically well in terms of fostering a sense of community and making places where people choose to live.”

Planning application submitted for Build-to-Rent development on Bonnington Road Lane

A planning application for the development of high-quality Build-to-Rent (BTR) accommodation has been submitted by property developer and operator, PLATFORM_.

Located at the site of the derelict John Lewis depot/warehouse, Edinburgh, the proposals seek to introduce a high-quality BTR scheme at the heart of Edinburgh with 527 units. PLATFORM_ funds and ultimately manage a finished building with a desire and vested interest to produce a quality development.

Build-to-Rent (BTR) is a relatively recent model for new residential buildings in the UK, where all the properties are built for rent, not for sale.

PLATFORM_’s model represents an affordable and integrated offering where residents live not just in their apartments but can use the entirety of the building equipped with a gym, communal workspaces, bike club and a fulltime concierge service.

Across the UK currently, PLATFORM_ developments are home to residents with an age range between 19-66 years. Nearly 60% of successful applicants within PLATFORM_ schemes earned less than £30,000 per annum, and the median salary of a PLATFORM_ resident is £29,510. 12% were classified as key workers, including teachers, police officers, and NHS staff. The median full-time salary in Edinburgh is £32,182.

The new homes will be a mix of studios, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments spread across three blocks ranging from 4 to 7 storeys. All PLATFORM_ units are available to rent, meaning that less are used as second homes or remain unoccupied, and in turn, more homes are available for people to rent.

jmarchitects worked on the scheme, and the planning consultants were Turley. Engineers were Harley Haddow; landscape architects were Hirst, cost consultants were Thomas & Adamson.

Matt Willock, Development Director at PLATFORM_, said: “We’re thrilled to submit this application for our BTR scheme in Edinburgh. Bonnington Road Lane is an ideal location to spearhead PLATFORM_’s vision in Edinburgh. 

“Not only will we develop the site, but we will operate the building. Our residents may rent an apartment, but will also have an abundance of common amenities at their disposal, including a gym, communal workspaces, a bike club, and rooftop gardens.”

“These proposals not only serve to redevelop a vital location, but help to tackle Edinburgh’s crisis in realistic housing, especially in Edinburgh city centre. BTR is a new, upward trend that offers high-quality rented accommodation at competitive prices for a wide-ranging demographic. Across the UK, nearly 60 per cent of our residents earn less than £30,000 a year.

“We’ve consulted widely and diligently with stakeholders in Edinburgh and the public in Leith to ensure they’ve had an opportunity to input their views about the proposals. The plans represent a collaborative discussion about how best to make this site work.”