SOON-TO-BE newlyweds have snapped up their “dream home” in one of Edinburgh’s most desirable new postcodes.
As the first-footers in “The Avenue”, part of the final phase of homes at Ravelrig Heights by CALA Homes (East), Craig and Alise are the first to enjoy life in one of the eight impressive five-bedroom homes on the crescent shaped The Avenue.
As well as some showcase interiors, each home at The Avenue features a large driveway with electric gate entrance, a double garage with self-contained accommodation above and gardens up to a third of an acre in size.
The Avenue features two house types, the Waverley, the house type purchased by Craig and Alise which spans 3726 square feet, and the Roxburgh which spans 3252 square feet.
Craig, a portfolio manager, said: “We weren’t planning to move so soon but because of everything that happened during the pandemic, we spent a lot of time at home and wanted a bit more space.
“After looking at a few developments, we still weren’t set on buying a new home, but when we looked at The Avenue it just made sense. It’s amazing coming somewhere where our money can go a lot further.
“We wanted some place quieter, but still reasonably close to Edinburgh city centre and close to my parents. Alise used to live in Balerno so we always talked about starting a family here as the schools and community are really great. After seeing The Avenue, we were like ‘yeah this is it’.”
Welcomed by a statement double staircase, upper galleried landing with an upper balcony and large rear garden, the development stood out to Chris and Alise for its family-friendly charm.
Alise, an events coordinator said: “When we walked in and saw that staircase that was it for me, I was like I need to live here. Every part of the house just had that wow factor.
“We knew there was a garden but when we stepped out we were in shock. I had never seen a home with a garden this big. From the kitchen you can slide the doors open and step right out which is perfect especially for the summer.
Designed with light and spacious living in mind, The Avenue’s homes benefit from designs equipped with an open planned kitchen, built-in appliances, bi-folding doors and under floor heating.
Alise added: “We knew CALA had a great reputation and were going to look after us but they truly do go above and beyond.
“The journey doesn’t end when you move in. We have the development manager checking in regularly to make sure everything is alright and that we’ve settled in well. We can’t speak highly enough about CALA.”
Craig added: “We are both very active people so the space above the garage has been amazing as we’ve been able to convert it into a home gym.”
With a separate home office, The Avenue offers buyers an ideal place to work from home with a range of outdoor networks into the countryside and excellent transport links into the capital.
Homes at Ravelrig Heights start from £795,000 with homes on The Avenue ranging from £1,095,000 – £1,215,000.
For more information on The Avenue, Ravelrig Heights, Balerno, please visit: https://www.cala.co.uk/theavenue or call 0131 516 6832.
NHBC, the UK’s leading new homes warranty and insurance provider, has announced a number of site managers from Edinburgh as winners in the first round of its flagship competition to determine the very best site managers in the UK.
The competition recognises site managers who have achieved the very highest standards in house building with the awards being the most prestigious of their kind in the sector.
The winners in Edinburgh are:
Ewan MacLean of Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland for Cammo Meadows in Edinburgh (above)
Barrie Mitchell of Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland for Heritage Grange in Edinburgh.
Colin Scott of Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland for The Strand @ Portobello in Edinburgh.
Mark Foley of CALA Evans Restoration Limited for The Crescent in Edinburgh.
Ian Welsh of CALA Homes East Ltd for Waterfront Plaza in Edinburgh.
Jim Martin of Miller Homes Scotland East for Edgelaw in Edinburgh.
From a field of more than 10,000, 450 site managers have won a Quality Award in the first round of NHBC’s Pride in the Job Awards 2021. This represents the top 5% of those who entered and is testament to their commitment to deliver quality homes for their customers.
Pride in the Job, first launched over forty years ago, is the most highly regarded competition in the house-building industry. Judging for the Awards is rigorous, with the current competition beginning in July 2020 and each site manager assessed across six key areas: consistency, attention to detail, leadership, interpretation of drawings and specifications, technical expertise, and health and safety.
Pride in the Job is at the heart of NHBC’s core purpose to support the delivery of high-quality new homes. By recognising the very best site managers across the UK, the competition celebrates the vital role that site managers play in ensuring new homes are delivered on time, on safe sites and to exacting construction quality standards.
The competition is fully inclusive and representative of the UK house-building industry with three categories for different sized businesses: small, medium and large, with a separate multi-storey category.
The Quality Award winners will go on to compete for Seal of Excellence and Regional Awards in the autumn, with the national, Supreme Award winners unveiled in January 2022.
Commenting on the Awards, NHBC Chief Executive Steve Wood said:“Pride in the Job has been pivotal in improving the quality of new homes for more than 40 years. Despite the numerous challenges the industry has faced, the very best site managers of 2021 have remained focused on delivering high quality new homes for their customers.
“At NHBC we are very proud of Pride in the Job, what it stands for and the impact it has across the sector. Pride in the Job winning sites have higher levels of homeowner satisfaction as these homes are among the very best in the country.
“Congratulations to all our 2021 Pride in the Job Quality Award winners in Edinburgh – be proud of what you are building and the standards you are setting.”
Barratt East Scotland site managers named as best in the country for quality
– Five David Wilson Homes and Barratt Homes site managers in the region win awards
– Barratt Developments wins more ‘Pride in the Job’ Quality awards than any other housebuilder, with 14 awards in Scotland alone
Five site managers from Barratt East Scotland have won a top national award for the quality of the homes they are building.
Known as the “Oscars of the housebuilding industry”, the National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in The Job Quality awards recognise the finest site managers from around the country.
In total, site managers from Barratt Developments won 93 ‘Pride in the Job’ Quality awards this year. In Scotland, the housebuilder scooped 14 awards. This is the 17th year in a row that Barratt has won more Pride in the Job Quality awards than any other housebuilder, showing its long-term commitment to building high quality homes.
These awards, now in their 41st year, rate site managers against key criteria such as technical expertise, health and safety, consistency, leadership and attention to detail. The awards celebrate the vital role site managers play in ensuring new homes are delivered on-time, on safe sites, and to the highest quality standards.
Every site manager that is registered with the NHBC is automatically entered into the awards, with just 450 winners being selected from 11,000 entrants, showing how difficult they are to win.
These awards come off the back of a Barratt site manager being crowned the overall winner in last year’s awards. Kirk Raine, senior site manager, won the supreme award, the fifth time in the last six years that a Barratt site manager has won the top prize.
Alison Condie, managing director for Barratt East Scotland, said:“These awards showcase only the best new homes and well-run sites.
“By winning so many awards, it demonstrates that we are building some of the highest quality homes in the country. It also shows the long-term commitment we have to looking after our customers and making them happy. No other housebuilder can match our record at the NHBC Pride in the Job Quality awards.”
These awards closely follow Barratt Developments being awarded 5 stars by its customers for satisfaction in the annual Home Builders Federation (HBF) new homes survey.
To be rated five star means that more than 90% of its customers would recommend one of its homes to a friend, with Barratt being the only major national housebuilder to be rated five star for 12 years in a row.
CALA HOMES: BUILDING WITH PRIDE
SITE MANAGERS RECOGNISED AS TWO OF THE COUNTRY’S BEST FOR 2021
TWO CALA Edinburgh site managers have received UK-wide recognition for their excellent professional standards and positive contributions to the construction industry.
Mark Foley, site manager for CALA Homes at The Crescent at Donaldson’s and Ian Welsh, site manager for CALA Homes Waterfront Plaza, are celebrating after receiving a prestigious industry award from the National Home Building Council (NHBC).
Mark and Ian have been recognised in the 2021 Pride in the Job Quality Awards for their contribution to creating homes of the highest quality and showcasing best practice, joining an impressive 16 site managers from across the CALA Group to receive the coveted accolade.
The Pride in the Job Awards has been running for more than four decades and is one of the highest industry accolades a site manager can receive.
More than 11,000 site managers across the UK were assessed this year, with only 450 winners selected, putting those awarded in the industry’s top four per cent who demonstrate the passion, commitment and leadership to deliver new homes to the highest possible standards.
Mark and Ian will now go through to the next stage of the competition, the Seal of Excellence, which will be announced later this year.
Craig Lynes, Managing Director with CALA Homes (East) comments: “The Pride in the Job Awards recognise site managers who, along with their teams and sub-contractors deliver excellence for our customers every day.
“It is our teams on the ground who bring our homes to life, ensuring the vision for each development is delivered on time, safely and to the highest quality standards.
“Over the past year, more than any other, site managers have had to overcome unprecedented challenges, but the commitment from Mark, Ian and their teams to deliver the highest quality standards have been unwavering. We wish teams at The Crescent and Waterfront Plaza all the best of luck as the awards progress on to the next stage.”
As well as undergoing spot checks of the day-to-day running of their site, each site manager is assessed across 37 different areas of site management, including technical knowledge, quality and consistency.
Mark, who is CALA’s most decorated project manager with 15 Pride in the Job awards, alongside 10 Seal of Excellences, three regional awards and one supreme award, said: “To secure the Pride in the Job accolade is a real honour.
“Knowing that our team at The Crescent has achieved this following stringent site inspections is testament to their hard work and professionalism.”
Ian added: “Knowing how diligently the team at Waterfront Plaza have worked from the outset of the project, it’s great to see our efforts rewarded in such a fitting way. We are all very proud.”
A cutting-edge interpretation of Georgian architecture, with 18 acres of landscaped gardens and grounds, prices at The Crescent range from £595,000 to £1,750,000, with a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses available.
Launched in summer 2019, Waterfront Plaza is CALA’s latest brownfield regeneration project.
After the sell-out success of the first release colony apartments, Waterfront Plaza currently features 2 & 3 bedroom apartments & 4 bedroom townhouses ranging from £295,000 to £520,000.
Cala Homes launch its latest showhome at The Avenue, Ravelrig Heights, Pictured players from the local Currie Chieftains rugby club, Captain Fergus Scott and Oren Corrigan (P3) and Cala Corrigan (P2)
AN EXPANSIVE new CALA Homes (East) showhome has been officially opened by local rugby stars of the future and present.
The Waverley at Ravelrig Heights in Balerno is a five-bedroom home spanning more than 3726 square feet, including detached self-contained accommodation above garage and large garden.
The showhome, CALA’s largest in the region, is now available for pre-booked viewings after being opened by junior and senior players from Currie Chieftains, based in nearby Malleny Park in Balerno and which the homebuilder has been main sponsor for the last 10 years.
The impressive home is part of The Avenue, a collection of just eight electric gated homes located on an open crescent to the private edge of its successful Ravelrig Heights development.
Fergus Scott, Club captain with the Chieftains attended the opening – and was joined by brother and sister Oren and Cala Corrigan from its thriving junior setup.
He said: “This home is incredible inside and out. It’s a real privilege to be given the role of officially opening a flagship showhome.
“CALA has supported the club for the last decade – a time in which we’ve been able to expand and improve our setup immeasurably, adding junior and women’s teams and attracting players from Balerno, Currie and the wider area.”
Cala Homes launch its latest showhome at The Avenue, Ravelrig Heights, Pictured players from the local Currie Chieftains rugby club, Captain Fergus Scott and Oren Corrigan (P3) and Cala Corrigan (P2)
Craig Lynes, Managing Director with CALA Homes (East) also attended the launch. He said: “This showhome is a credit to the teams behind it and is the perfect showcase for our brand.
“Inviting the Chieftains down as our VIP guests to open such a special home was an obvious decision for us – owing to the positive impact it has throughout the surrounding community.”
With interiors designed by Eileen Kesson of Envision Design, the focal point of the home is a dramatic split staircase and galleried landing. The showhome is presented with two contrasting downstairs lounges, a vast kitchen and family room – with separate utility room – and a formal dining room downstairs.
Upstairs five spacious double bedrooms (including three en-suite) provide copious storage options. The main bedroom also includes a large dressing area.
Homes on The Avenue at Ravelrig Heights feature an exceptional specification as standard, including underfloor heating, electric gated entrances, and large secluded gardens reaching up to a third of an acre in size.
The location also offers easy access to the city, airport, excellent schooling and surrounding countryside, outside pursuits and walks.
Currie Chieftains was conceived by six rugby enthusiasts who met in a pub in 1970, building its reputation on a 25-year climb from the Edinburgh District League, Division 2 to reach the top-flight Scottish Premiership in the mid-1990s.
To find out more information or express interest in ‘The Avenue’ at Ravelrig Heights, please contact 0131 516 5774 or visit https://www.cala.co.uk/theavenue
A GIFTED Cramond Primary pupil who won a design competition to create a showhome bedroom has finally had the opportunity to see his creation come to life.
After impressing the judges earlier this year, Jonathan Anderson, 11, visited the new Cammo Meadows development by CALA Homes (East), with his parents, ahead of the showhomes launching on 29 May.
Jonathan’s designs centred on a jungle theme, creating a striking digital moodboard to a detailed brief and floorplan, while budgeting for all of the items included.
Leading interior designer, Eileen Kesson of Envision had presented the project to the 51-strong two P7 classes – and selected Jonathan’s entry for its originality and attention to detail.
Eileen was subsequently able to source individual items, such as a fun wall tropical mural, specially printed for the home, green furniture, jungle toys and LED lights throughout.
Jonathan said: “I really enjoyed picking out the things to put in the bedroom and I decided to have a desk because I could draw and do my homework on it.
“It’s rainforest themed, with green, yellow and blue, because I love animals and the outdoors. I wish this was my bedroom!”
Eileen said: “Jonathan’s, and a lot of the entries, were absolutely fantastic but with Jonathan’s design what stood out to me was the colour – it’s so vibrant and exciting and he followed his theme through so completely.
“We asked the children if they could design a room for Sam, a ten-year-old boy, and we gave them a floorplan, a budget and they could take on that blank canvas and make it theirs.
“I love the detail of Jonathan’s room, in particular the bespoke rainforest mural. He asked for the curtains to be yellow because it’s sunny and positive, and he wanted the rug to be blue to simulate a pool in a forest so the detail was fantastic.
“With a showhome you’re looking for themes or threads that will run through the whole house so it’s important you carry them from room to room – and this room was so comprehensive it was quite easy for us to make it happen.”
Alison Cunningham, Marketing Manager at CALA Homes (East), said: “Having Jonathan and his family come to visit the showhome in person was the perfect way to round off what’s been a brilliant project with Cramond Primary.
“Jonathan’s designs really impressed the whole CALA East team too, we’ve been looking forward to the showhomes being ready so Eileen could pull everything together, and to finally see it in person is fantastic.”
His designs feature in The Mallaig, one of the two new showhomes CALA launching at Cammo Meadows on Saturday, which is situated near to Cramond Primary School.
Cammo Meadows is a development of detached homes, terraced homes and apartments next to the Cammo Estate nature reserve.
The development is minutes from Cramond Primary School and is also surrounded by a multitude of green outdoor spaces, a wildflower meadow, with a new woodland to be created as part of the development.
Built in 1975, Cramond Primary School is a non-denominational school that serves Cramond and the surrounding areas of northwest Edinburgh. The school has more than 400 pupils and is part of the Royal High School cluster.
For more information on Cammo Meadows, please visit:
PLANS for a prime development on land made available from the completion of the Queensferry Crossing will be determined today (Wednesday 19 May).
Recommended for approval by planners, the 176-home South Queensferry development by CALA Homes (East) includes 44 affordable homes, 39 of which will be delivered by locally-based Manor Estates Housing Association.
The remaining five will be ‘golden share, a form of discounted price available to purchase by those on the housing waiting list’. Most of the affordable homes will be constructed early into the build process.
Approval of the Springfield site at the upcoming City of Edinburgh development management sub-committee will confirm more than £2.2million in Section 75 funding. This includes £2.15m towards education, £29,500 to improving transport infrastructure and around £37,000 towards the expansion of the local healthcare centre.
Following extensive engagement with the local community, the plans also include a range of traffic calming measures at the adjoining Bo’ness Road, as well as improved crossings, footpath connections to Society Road and Bo’ness road and a dedicated cycleway.
Keith Giblett, Chair of Queensferry and District Community Council, said: “We’ve welcomed the extent to which CALA has been willing to listen to the community. Pleasingly, it has resulted in material changes to the proposed development and the area around it, including vital works to Bo’ness road in the vicinity of the primary school.
“Go-ahead will provide a major and timely contribution towards facilities in and around South Queensferry – and we’d look forward to getting an understanding from the council on how that money will be spent.”
The development will benefit from exceptional views out to the Forth and its bridges and a broad mix of homes put forward by CALA includes 57 apartments, alongside three, four and five bedroom properties, boosting supply for a wide segment of the market.
The 44 affordable homes will feature a mix of one to three bedroom homes. CALA hopes to be able to begin work at the development as early as autumn 2021.
Derek Lawson, Strategic Land Director at CALA Homes, said: “This development has been years in the making and we must thank the local community for engaging throughout. In particular, the area around the development will be much more pedestrian and cyclist friendly – with extensive footpath connectivity.
“This process has resulted in final proposals that will boost the local area considerably, as well as providing a wide range of family homes to meet the needs of a strong local market.”
Originally identified for housing almost 30 years ago, the site, which extends to 7.5 hectares, forms part of a wider area of land originally owned by CALA, following the grant of residential planning permission dating back to 1991.
The land was then acquired by the Scottish Office in 1994 for the new forth crossing – Queensferry Crossing. With the bridge now complete, the Scottish Ministers have been in the process of disposing of surplus land. The regulations relating to disposal require that surplus land is initially offered to previous landowners, which in this case is CALA Homes.
CALA has a strong history working in the South Queensferry area, recently completing its development at nearby Dalmeny Park, where it delivered 156 private homes on a brownfield site formerly owned by Agilent. This also included the delivery of 112 affordable homes.
A RENOWNED Michelin-star chef cooked up a storm at a high-profile Edinburgh development, describing the designer kitchens as ideal for creating home-cooked family meals.
To celebrate local Scottish producers and the reopening of Edinburgh’s lively hospitality scene, Michelin-star Chef Tom Kitchin collaborated with CALA Homes (East) for a cook along at its Boroughmuir development in Bruntsfield.
The Masterchef guest judge regular demonstrated how home cooks could replicate restaurant-quality dishes from home, using local ingredients from his favourite suppliers across the city.
On the menu was Scottish salmon fillet from Welch fishmongers in Newhaven, with peas, lettuce, radish and broad beans.
More than 4500 users have tuned in across Facebook and Instagram to watch the decorated Chef cook live from the show apartment.
Chef Kitchin is the Chef Proprietor of four businesses across Edinburgh and East Lothian (The Kitchin, The Scran & Scallie, The Bonnie Badger & Southside Scran). Scotland’s youngest winner of a Michelin star, he took the opportunity to thank CALA for helping to shine a light on Edinburgh’s hospitality industry and local suppliers.
He said: “Edinburgh’s hospitality scene is so vibrant with so many ventures going on. For years we were the laughing stock – culinary wise – and now we can showcase some of the world’s best restaurants.
“It’s so different to other cities – it’s the most beautiful – and it’s a city that makes you smile. Each area is so unique.
“The restaurants we have in the Kitchin group are in such different parts of Edinburgh. I love being in The Kitchin in Leith, it has a totally different vibe to the Southside. But the great thing is, regardless where you are, you can get around the whole city so easily.
“I’ve really enjoyed cooking in a CALA kitchen. It has all the modern appliances you need – and is perfect for creating a home-cooked family meal.”
Chef Kitchin gave the show home kitchen, designed by Kitchens International, a grilling at the event, making full use of the integrated Siemens appliances throughout – bringing the meal together on the Siemens induction hob, located on a kitchen island – an ideal setting for entertaining.
Philip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “This event was a first for us and it surpassed all of our high expectations – it was an honour to have one of Scotland’s most renowned chefs cook in our kitchens.”
CALA offers buyers a range of homes and apartments across its three Edinburgh developments. Boroughmuir, in the heart of Bruntsfield, Waterfront Plaza in Leith, and The Crescent, located near Haymarket.
To find out about CALA’s developments across Edinburgh, visit:
KITCHENS within one of Edinburgh’s most high-profile developments are getting the ultimate grilling thanks to a partnership with renowned Michelin-star chef, Tom Kitchin.
In celebration of local producers and the reopening of Edinburgh’s vibrant hospitality scene, Tom is collaborating with CALA Homes (East) on a live event at its Boroughmuir development in the city.
The Masterchef judge regular will be hosting a cook-along at the housebuilder’s recently opened second showhome on 7th May, using ingredients locally-sourced from his favourite suppliers in the city, and showing how home cooks can replicate the magic of his restaurant dishes.
On the menu is salmon fillet, sourced from Welch fishmongers at Newhaven served with spring peas and broad beans. The full recipe will be shared ahead of the event for budding home chefs and followers to easily follow along on the day.
Chef Kitchin, Scotland’s youngest winner of a Michelin star and Chef Proprietor of four businesses across Edinburgh and East Lothian (The Kitchin, The Scran & Scallie, The Bonnie Badger & Southside Scran), believes the partnership is the perfect opportunity to showcase the best of Scottish produce and hospitality as the industry reopens.
He said: “Edinburgh has a fantastic hospitality scene and it’s great to do something fun and a bit different to celebrate the reopening of restaurants, bars and pubs across the country.
“The invite from CALA is a fantastic opportunity to try out the kitchens at Boroughmuir, while giving home cooks a challenge to replicate the quality of a restaurant meal at home.
“The CALA kitchens have an incredible specification and look like the perfect setting for getting creative, so I’m excited to visit and try everything out.”
Chef Kitchin will be cooking in the development’s showhome kitchen which has been designed by Kitchens International and is fully equipped with integrated Siemens appliances throughout, including an induction hob, fridge-freezer, black glass and stainless steel oven, and combination microwave oven.
Philip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “It’s a real honour to have Scotland’s most renowned chef cooking in a CALA kitchen – we’re thrilled to have him showcase how you can create a restaurant-quality dish from home.
“Since we welcomed our first residents late last year, we’ve heard a lot of great feedback on our kitchens, so we wanted to showcase and celebrate that, as well as local produce and hospitality, as best we could.”
To join the cook-along, follow @calahomes on Instagram or Facebook and tune in to the live stream from 5pm on 7th May or search for the dedicated hashtag, #TheKitchinAtCALA
A MODERN reimagining of the city townhouse has been launched to the market at a sought-after Leith development.
Comprising plenty of flexible space set across three levels, The Brae townhouse by CALA Homes (East) is the latest housetype to be launched by the developer at its popular Waterfront Plaza development.
Designed with city professionals, growing families and downsizers in mind, its carefully created layout can be adapted to cater for different and evolving needs, while also providing all the extra room needed for visiting family and friends.
With the first two of these three bedroom townhouses now available for reservation, priced at £495,000 and £500,000 respectively, CALA also plan to launch a townhouse showhome in late summer/early autumn; this will initially be able to be viewed virtually from the comfort of your own home, until it is deemed safe to host private appointments.
At the start of the lockdown it also launched its Remote Reservations service, which has proven popular in enabling buyers to confidently secure their new dream home from the comfort of their current home, with the fee fully refundable. Buyers can also opt to use the developer’s other helpful services such as its Part Exchange or Guaranteed Buyer services.
Philip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “There is a real community building at Waterfront Plaza – and that is owing in part to the brilliant range of apartments and homes, attracting a diverse range of buyers.
“We’ve already seen the sell-out success of the colony apartments and duplexes – a style of home intrinsic to Edinburgh.
“These townhouses are again so familiar to the city. Yet our design teams have been able to build on everything we love with traditional townhouses; that sense of height, large windows and grand hallways – with modern twists throughout including a first floor private terrace to reflect how we live now.”
On the ground floor, a family room the breadth of the property offers a range of potential uses, while a third bedroom could easily be repurposed into the ultimate home office, boosted with fibre connectivity direct into the home available. A utility room, WC and storage space add further real world practicality.
Upstairs a formal lounge with two Juliet balconies is just a few steps from a contemporary open-plan kitchen and dining area. This space is made even more impressive with sliding glass doors to a copious, first floor terrace, which also provides a cover for the private parking space below, with many offering south facing aspects to maximise sunlight.
The top floor is reserved for two impressive, near mirror-image en suite bedrooms, both exceeding five by three metres and including built in storage and their own private Juliet balconies. The en suites suit every preference, with one offering a bath and the other a shower.
Further to the balconies and the spacious terrace, a low-maintenance garden means the home offers easy living that blends inside and outside space across all its levels.
Ewan McIntyre, Managing Director with EMA Architecture and Design, who designed the homes in partnership with CALA’s in-house teams, said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to work with CALA on a site as special as this. CALA’s particular approach has enabled us to design a broad range of high quality and innovative family homes for the site, including these townhouses.
“The opportunity to design homes for families to live in a waterside setting in Edinburgh is very rare and we’re proud of what we’ve been able to achieve here.”
Set in the heart of the thriving Leith shoreline, recently crowned the Best Place to Live in Scotland by The Sunday Times, Waterfront Plaza benefits from a range of vibrant bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as all the amenities of Ocean Terminal which is situated directly opposite.
The development follows on from nearby successful projects by CALA at Albert Dock, Trinity Park and Ten Brunswick Road.
Accessing the capital city centre is made easy with regular bus services and cycle paths. By car, the M8, M9 and the A90 are all within easy reach via the city bypass.
LOCALS and visitors to Gullane are a big step closer to enjoying a safe, four-mile pathway to the nearest railway station thanks to the actions of a major homebuilder.
For 15 years the Drem-Gullane Path Campaign has been calling for an off-road path to take pedestrians and cyclists away from the busy B1377 and has built widespread support from a cross-section of the community.
Now the group has cause for long-awaited celebration, with the first stretch of the path officially underway, courtesy of CALA Homes (East), at its Marine Rise development in the village.
In the coming weeks CALA will build the first quarter mile, of a one mile stretch starting from the corner of Fenton Road and Main Street, eventually stretching the length of the C111 to West Fenton.
CALA is simultaneously progressing plans for the remaining first phase, with the path also continuing on land at upcoming developments Fentoun Meadow and Saltcoats.
Jordon McKenna, Site Manager at CALA’s Marine Rise development in Gullane, said: “As a responsible developer, we want to be able to bring benefit to the wider community.
“This path will be a precious resource for locals and visitors. Credit to the campaign group for its persistence and patience, we’re thrilled to be able to play a role in this tangible first build.
“While we’re still advancing plans for the remainder of the first phase to West Fenton, we must also thank the work and engagement of the various landowners whose land it will traverse – including Luffness Estate and West Fenton farms.”
Spokesperson for the campaign, Iain Monk, said: “We are delighted to finally see the diggers moving in to start work on the first section of the path. This is a significant milestone for our 15-year campaign, which commands widespread support across the community.
“Pedestrians and cyclists should be able to travel safely between Drem and Gullane, free from the busy and dangerous main road.
The Drem-Gullane path will transform our coastal communities and the lives of the people who live in them. It will also attract visitors to the area, which will be good news for local shops, pubs and restaurants.”
The tangible progress has also been welcomed by local politicians from across the political spectrum.
Kenny MacAskill, MP for East Lothian, said: “This is great news. Safe, family-friendly active travel options are essential for both commuters and citizens alike. This new pathway will be good for the health of local residents and our environment. Campaigners, CALA and local landowners are to be commended for making it happen.
“After declaring a climate emergency seven months ago, East Lothian Council must act now and ensure the remaining sections of the path to Drem are delivered as a matter of urgency.”
Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, said: “I have always supported the campaign for the development of a safe, off-road path linking Gullane and Drem, so I am pleased to welcome the start of work on constructing this stretch of cycle/footpath from Gullane to West Fenton.
“This has come about as a result of positive collaboration between CALA Homes and local campaigners and will offer a new option for active travel in the area as well as supporting local businesses. I commend those who have worked hard to secure it and look forward to the benefits it will bring.”
The benefits of the path’s construction to local businesses has been welcomed by the community.
General Manager at The Old Clubhouse Bar and Restaurant, Dominic Campanile, said: “The Old Clubhouse is delighted to see construction start on a one-mile path from Gullane to West Fenton. As a local business, we are in no doubt about the positive economic impact it will have on the area.
“It will be a fantastic asset for the community and we want to tap into the thriving cycle and walking tourism sector. Attracting more visitors to the area will be good for all the businesses in Gullane.”
AN EDINBURGH project manager has won a top industry accolade at a prestigious national awards ceremony in London.
Mark Foley, of CALA Homes (East) took home the esteemed “Multi-Storey Building” award after representing Scotland at the National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Supreme Awards, at the Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster.
This year’s judging process began with the assessment of thousands of site and project managers from across the UK and culminated in only four Supreme Award winners.
Mark, 49, faced tough competition from projects in York, Poole and London but his work on the UNESCO-accredited site, The Crescent at Donaldson’s, stood out against his competitors.
This success follows Mark’s win in the qualifying heats of the NHBC ‘Pride in the Job’ Quality Awards in July and Regional Awards in October 2019, after impressing a team of inspectors during a series of rigorous and unscheduled visits to the development.
As well as undergoing spot checks of the day-to-day running of their sites, each Site Manager is assessed across 37 different areas of site management, including technical knowledge, quality and consistency.
Mark is CALA’s most decorated project manager with 13 Pride in the Job awards, alongside nine Seal of Excellences and two regional awards.
Mark said: “Delivering excellent quality for customers is what most site teams strive for and for our work at The Crescent to be recognised by the NHBC at the Supreme Awards is a real privilege and without doubt, the highlight of my career.
“Having the opportunity to work on such a prestigious site, with this level of architectural design, makes it all the more exciting.
“While my name is on the award, I want to make sure that it is appreciated how much of a team effort this is, and it couldn’t have been achieved without the amazing team I have working alongside me.
“I was immensely proud of the whole team at the Regional awards, but to make it to the Supreme Awards, and come out victorious, is a dream come true.”
Kevin Whitaker, Chief Executive Officer of CALA Homes, said: “The Pride in the Job awards recognise the industry’s best site managers and the exceptional contribution they make in creating homes of outstanding quality.
“The Supreme Award is the very highest accolade that a site manager can receive and we are extremely proud of Mark for this fantastic achievement.
“This award doesn’t just represent success for Mark, however, but for the entire team at CALA Homes East, who all play a vital role in ensuring that this unique and complex architectural design is delivered safely and to the highest quality standards for not only our customers, but also the wider Edinburgh community, on what is a very important site for the City.”
Steve Wood, NHBC Chief Executive, said: “Through Pride in the Job, NHBC has been celebrating the best of the best in house building for almost 40 years.
“There is no doubt that these awards have been instrumental in driving up the quality of new homes and results show that Pride in the Job winning sites have higher levels of customer satisfaction.
“The final stage of this competition is tough, so to earn the highest accolade of Supreme winner a site manager must have successfully managed a wide range of competing demands and challenges.
“Their determination and success in achieving excellence deserves recognition. More importantly, site managers like Mark are creating high quality outstanding homes that their customers can have confidence in – they are building the future. Congratulations, Mark.”
Designed by architect, Richard Murphy OBE, The Crescent mirrors the curve of the traditional New Town homes it finds itself inspired by.
Situated in the tranquil grounds of the iconic Donaldson’s estate, homes at The Crescent offer the convenience of capital living with an authentic rural feel with expansive views of the Pentland Hills.
The final remaining homes in the development’s west wing have not long been available and offer a range of sizes – from one-bedroom apartments to a deluxe penthouse – to cater for any potential buyers from £595,000 – £1,750,000.
For more information, or to register interest in the Crescent development visit: www.cala.co.uk/the-crescent or call 0131 341 2667.
