Tag: housing

Tackling the housing emergency

Investing in affordable housing

Housing Minister Paul McLennan visited an affordable housing development in East Lothian to highlight plans in the draft Budget for next year to increase funding for the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

The investment could see the total budget for delivering affordable homes rise to £768 million in 2025-26 – an increase of more than £200 million compared to this year’s published budget.

Other measures in the Scottish Government’s draft Budget aimed at tackling the housing emergency include:

  • £4 million to support local authorities and frontline services to prevent homelessness
  • £2 million to transform empty properties into safe, warm, affordable homes

In addition, £1 million for registered social landlords and third sector partners will be available this year to fund work to help sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness.

Speaking during his visit to the development in Haddington, Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “Investing in safe, warm and affordable homes is key to our top priority to tackle child poverty.

“We already have a strong track record in affordable housing, having supported the delivery of 133,000 affordable homes since 2007 – this includes our £2.9 million investment in the development at Haddington. That’s 45% more per head of the population than in England and 70% more than in Wales.

“By increasing the affordable housing supply budget in 2025-26 by more than £200 million, housing providers will be able to deliver at least 8,000 properties for social and mid-market rent and low-cost home ownership.”

Councillor Andy Forrest, East Lothian Council spokesperson for Housing, said: “It was really useful to welcome the Minister to Haddington this morning to discuss East Lothian’s recently announced Affordable Housing Crisis and to emphasise the need for clarity as soon as possible on what our settlement will be so that we can continue to sustain our hugely important future housing programme.

“We welcome the announcement of more subsidy funding for affordable housing and any additional revenue for frontline services to help prevent homelessness.”

Green light for seven thousand new homes in West Edinburgh

Councillors have unanimously agreed planning permissions in principle for what is expected to become one the biggest new housing developments in Edinburgh for decades.

With space for 7,000 new homes, 35% of which will be affordable, West Town Edinburgh intends to create a new, green, £2bn 20-minute neighbourhood on a 205-acre site close to Edinburgh Airport.

Following the decision made by members of the Development Management Sub Committee yesterday (4 December), Council Leader Cammy Day said: “With urgent solutions to our housing and climate emergencies needed, our new City Plan is helping to make sure development in the city creates sustainable, affordable homes. And by unlocking underused sites to the West and to the North of the city, we’re now starting to see affordable low carbon homes built at the pace and scale we need.

“The Council has approved planning in principle for over 12,000 new homes this year and more additional green space than any other city as we work urgently with partners to sustainably address Edinburgh’s housing emergency. The biggest housing-led development in Edinburgh of modern times, West Town will provide a huge number of the new homes our city needs and I’m pleased Council officers and developers have worked together to get a great result. This is a major £2 billion development of 7,000 energy efficient homes, alongside shops, schools, local amenities, and lots of greenspace.

“Consider this alongside our £1.3bn regeneration of the Granton Waterfront, which is the biggest development of its kind in Scotland, with over £250 million invested with partners and good progress being made towards delivering around 3,500 new net zero carbon homes. All of this is welcome news for the city, for our climate ambitions, for the thousands of residents in need of new housing and for Edinburgh’s economy – which is bucking national trends and continues to grow.”

The Committee will go on to consider another application in two weeks for the area, for a further 3,000 new homes by Elements Edinburgh.

Demolition Starts of Former Deutsche Bank House at Crewe Toll

256 New Low-Carbon Homes and Commercial Space to be Created at Ferry Road Site – Construction Starts Summer 2025

Regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate is progressing with the demolition of the former Deutsche Bank House at 525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, making way for a spectacular homes-led redevelopment of the site. 

Planning approval was granted in March 2024 for Artisan together with fund manager REInvest Asset Management S.A. to create a low-carbon residential community on the vacant site near the Crewe Toll roundabout in the northwest of the city centre.

Known as ‘525 Park View’, the new neighbourhood will provide 256 sustainable homes, 25% of which will be for affordable housing.

Flexible commercial space facing on to Ferry Road will provide potential for cafes, shops and shared workspaces.

The 110,000 sq. ft Deutsch Bank House was an office and data-processing centre and was formerly the Scottish base for State Street Bank until the building was vacated in 2018. The phased demolition programme, led by specialist contractor Metropolitan Demolition Ltd, will last up to six months before construction of 525 Park View begins in summer 2025.

Welcoming the start of demolition, Artisan’s Regional Director for Scotland, David Westwater, said: “This is a hugely exciting opportunity to breathe new life into an underused site, whilst ensuring its long-term future by delivering a new sustainable community to an accessible city centre location, underlining Artisan’s long-term commitment to future investment in Edinburgh.

“We have a long-standing working relationship with our specialist demolition contractor who have significant UK-wide experience of carrying out complex demolition programmes in sensitive city centre areas. Priority will be given to ensuring minimal disruption to both our immediate residential neighbours and the surrounding business community.”

He added: “As a regeneration specialist, Artisan has an established track record in transforming sensitive urban spaces into vibrant living environments. As part of our award-winning commitment to sustainability, we will ensure that as much material as possible from the demolition will be recycled on site and used for the new development.

“To this end, we are forging an innovative partnership with Edinburgh-based social enterprise EALA Impacts to help manage the salvaging and reusing of materials from the existing building.”

Designed by Edinburgh-based 7N Architects, 525 Park View will raise the bar for sustainable city-centre living. More than two thirds of the development area will be made up of high-quality green spaces – including a large central communal garden as well as biodiverse green roofs and a ‘wetland’ area which enhances local ecology whilst contributing to the wider sustainable urban drainage system.

Smart technology such as individual air source heat pumps for each home also means no fossil fuels will be used, emphasising Artisan’s commitment to sustainable low carbon development and delivering low energy costs for occupiers. Artisan Real Estate has a strong track record in delivering complex residential and mixed-use regeneration projects in sensitive city centre environments across the UK and won the inaugural ‘Excellence in Sustainability’ award at last year’s Scottish Homes Awards.  

Development partner REInvest Asset Management S.A. was founded in Luxembourg as a specialist for future-facing investment ideas and currently manages and develops properties across Europe with a value in excess of EUR 2.3 billion. 525 Park View is held in a progressive property fund within a pan-European portfolio managed on behalf of a German insurance group.

For more information and to register interest in 525 Park View visit:

 www.525parkview.co.uk

First homes hit the market at Craigiehall Meadows

Two and three bed semi-detached homes available

THE FIRST homes at a highly anticipated Edinburgh development have been launched to the market.

First phase is now available at Craigiehall Meadows, the redevelopment of 78 homes that formed part of the expansive UK Army Scottish headquarters on the north-west fringe of the city.

All offer large plots with front and back gardens, refurbished interiors and exteriors and are located on Hillside Road at the northern portion of the development.

The first plots released at Hillside Road can be available to move into before the end of the year, with the available plots mirroring the two recently launched show homes, allowing those interested in making a move to get inspired.

The site has attracted large interest from first time buyers and families, with developers urging those interested to act quick to avoid missing out on their potential dream home.

Tzana Webster, Head of Estate Agency at Ralph Sayer which manage the development said: “Seeing Craigiehall Meadows come to life has been an incredibly rewarding journey.

“We’ve worked hard to preserve the site’s rich history while creating homes that cater to modern living, and it’s great to see the first properties now on the market.

“Both the Juniper and Poplar homes offer spacious layouts and generous garden plots, making them perfect for families looking to grow and first-time buyers taking their first step onto the property ladder.”

The Juniper, a two-bedroom semi-detached home is priced at a fixed £255,000, and the Poplar, a three-bedroom semi-detached home, available at a fixed £320,000.

Tzana added: “The response so far has been amazing, with interest from those with ties to the site’s past and new buyers eager to join and build a unique and welcoming community.

“This is just the start of what we’re offering, and 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year, as we will introduce even more homes to the Edinburgh market.

“We’re currently hosting viewings for those interested and with such high demand, we encourage anyone interested to act quickly to ensure they don’t miss out on what could be their dream home.”

Craigiehall Meadows offers a peaceful, rural setting with seamless connectivity to Edinburgh city centre, major motorways, and Edinburgh Airport.

Residents can enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside while being just moments away from sought-after neighbourhoods like Barnton, Cramond, and Cammo.

The development presents a unique opportunity for buyers, featuring homes with spacious interiors and the generous garden plots characteristic of the former army residences.

Those interested in the development can register their interest here – https://www.craigiehall-meadows.co.uk/

Viewings are now open and those interested can contact Ralph Sayer on 0131 225 5567 | property@ralphsayer.com to book in a viewing appointment for the 2 Bedroom Juniper or the 3 Bedroom Poplar. 

Bookings are strictly by appointment only.

Keeping pets at home: Strengthening tenants rights

Greater flexibility to keep pets in homes amongst range of Housing Bill measures

New legislation will introduce a range of measures to improve renting in Scotland, including strengthening tenants’ rights to keep a pet.

Measures in the Housing (Scotland) Bill will allow a renter to make a request to keep a pet in their home and for that to not be unreasonably refused by their landlord. Currently, it is entirely up to the landlord whether a tenant can keep a pet, and they must be given written permission to do so.

Other provisions aimed at providing a good quality, and affordable rental market also include a system of long-term rent controls, with the Scottish Government working with tenants, landlords, investors and developers to bring forward a system that works for tenants and supports investment in private rented housing.

Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “Pets are an important part of the family for many people across Scotland. Tenants have the right to feel at home in rented accommodation and having more control over keeping a pet can play a big part in that and can have additional benefits for their mental health and wellbeing.

“This is just one of a range of measures in the Housing (Scotland) Bill, including long-term rent controls, which will help improve the lives of renters and create an affordable, high-quality, and fair private rented sector.

“The Bill also meets the Scottish Government’s ambition to improve the renting experience in Scotland, whilst also encouraging landlords to invest.

“We will continue to work to create a system that strengthens renters’ rights and supports continued investment in the rental market.”

Gilly Mendes Ferreira, Director of Innovation and Strategic Relations for the Scottish SPCA said: “We welcome the provisions included within the Housing (Scotland) Bill, particularly the safeguarding of the rights of tenants to keep pets and hope that these measures will foster a more inclusive and compassionate rental market.

“Our research has found that over 75% of tenants stated they had a pet for emotional (77%) and mental health (83%) support.

“This survey also highlighted that seven out of 10 tenants would risk becoming homeless if they were no longer able to keep their pet in their current accommodation.

“Sadly, we also found that 37% of tenants stated that they have had to make that unimaginable choice between having a pet and having a roof over their head.” 

Cruden Homes unveils ‘Stunning Show Apartment’ at popular West Craigs Green development

A brand-new show apartment has been launched for prospective homebuyers to view at a highly sought-after housing development in Edinburgh. Cruden Homes’ West Craigs Green development, which announced its apartment phase earlier this year, is now inviting potential homeowners to explore the luxury apartments located just 20 minutes from Edinburgh city centre.

Expertly designed by Get Fully Furnished, the apartment boasts a spacious and stylish layout that maximises natural light, offering both functionality and elegance. This impressive space is designed in calming tones and includes an impressive balcony, complete with uninterrupted views over green open space. 

The exclusive collection of one- and two-bedroom apartments currently for sale caters to a wide range of buyers, from downsizers and first-time homeowners, to independent individuals seeking comfort and convenience.

The two-bedroom plots feature private balconies, perfect for enjoying breathtaking views across Lennie Park and Turnhouse Golf Club. Combining tranquillity with excellent connectivity, these apartments offer discerning buyers a unique lifestyle that balances natural beauty with modern convenience.

As an added incentive, Cruden Homes is offering an exclusive “Plot of the Month”—a rare opportunity to reserve a spacious, one-bedroom, ground-floor apartment available at West Craigs Green.

Priced at £220,000, this apartment is perfect for a couple or individual seeking the best of both worlds: access to lush green spaces and proximity to Scotland’s vibrant capital. Ready for move-in just in time for Christmas or in the New Year, it features generous storage and a stylish open-plan living and kitchen area, ideal for hosting.

For the fortunate buyer who reserves this month, Cruden Homes will include a flooring and furniture package, along with full Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) paid—making this a truly exceptional offer at West Craigs Green.

Hazel Davies, Sales and Marketing Director at Cruden Homes, commented:  “Designed with contemporary elegance and practicality in mind, our new show apartment demonstrates the standout quality and lifestyle on offer at West Craigs Green.

“Our Plot of the Month also offers exceptional value for those ready to make West Craigs Green their home.”

In addition to the striking collection of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, the development includes a range of three-bedroom terraced and semi-detached houses, and four-bedroom townhouses, each with private gardens.

The West Craigs area is undergoing significant transformation, evolving into a vibrant and friendly neighbourhood with abundant green spaces, including the newly established Lennie and Meadowfield Parks. Future plans include a new primary school and nursery, café, and health centre within walking distance.

Conveniently situated between Barnton and South Gyle, West Craigs Green is just five miles from Edinburgh city centre. It benefits from excellent transport links, including cycle routes, bus, rail, and tram stops in close proximity.

The Gyle Shopping Centre is easily accessible on foot or by car, offering a range of amenities such as high street shops, a supermarket, and eateries.

The show apartment is available for viewing at the sales and marketing suite, open Thursday to Monday, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm.

To find out more or to arrange a viewing, visit Cruden Homes or call 0131 600 0095.

Lorna Slater: Watered down rent controls would be disaster for tenants in Edinburgh

The Scottish Government will be betraying households and families across Edinburgh if they go ahead with plans to water down rent controls and impose above inflation rent hikes, says Lorna Slater MSP the Scottish Green MSP for Lorna Slater MSP. 

Earlier this year legislation was introduced by then Scottish Greens minister Patrick Harvie to finally bring rent controls to Scotland, which would help keep costs down for tenants. 

The Scottish Government supported this legislation in March, but has since announced proposals that would lock-in above inflation increases and by up to 6%, even in rent control areas.  

Scottish Government statistics show that between 2010 and 2023 average rents for a newly-let 2 bedroom flat in Lothian reached £1,192, an increase of 79%. 

Lorna Slater, the Scottish Green MSP for Lothian said: “This would be a shameful betrayal of households and families in Edinburgh. It would lock-in above inflation rent hikes at a time when far too many are struggling to make ends meet.   

“Everyone should have a warm, secure and affordable place to call home, but what the SNP is proposing flies in the face of that aspiration.  

“If the SNP goes ahead with these disastrous plans they will be selling-out renters in communities like Edinburgh and entrenching a broken and unfair system.   

“Homes should be for living in, not for profiteering. The SNP must not cave in to the landlord lobby and introduce legislation that would impose above inflation rent hikes.  

“I hope the SNP will rethink their proposals and work with us to deliver a rent control system that truly transforms our broken housing market and gives tenants in Lothian the security, stability and peace of mind that everyone deserves.” 

Detailed plans submitted for new Midlothian Village

Springfield Properties, one of Scotland’s leading private and affordable housebuilders, has submitted detailed proposals to Midlothian Council for the first phase of the new Lingerwood development.

After securing outline planning for around 1,000 homes last year to create a sustainable new neighbourhood off Stobhill Road just outside of Newtongrange, the developers have now designed the first phase of 63 private homes which has been submitted to Midlothian Council for comment.

Ranging from two, three, four and five bedrooms, the homes are part of Springfield’s new collection of house styles, this is the first application to feature the new portfolio. Each of the high-quality homes have been designed to maximise energy efficiency, include a unrivalled level of choice and specification, such as back garden turf as standard and a selection of paint colours for each room, while suiting a range of lifestyles to ensure buyers find their ideal home.

Reflecting the local landscape, the proposals also include attractive open green spaces, nature trail paths, new woodland planting, local links and the retention of existing trees, whilst the wider masterplan features everything a community will need to thrive. Crawlees Road in particular will also benefit from upgrades as a result of the development, as the road will be widened and include the installation of footpaths to provide a safe pedestrian route to the Mayfield industrial estate.

Springfield Managing Director, Andy Curran, said: “We’re pleased to be celebrating this milestone in the Lingerwood development journey as we submit proposals for the first 63, energy efficient homes for people in Midlothian. This is especially the case as it’s the first application to feature our new house style range which will streamline our operations and offer the best choice for our customers.

“At Springfield, we are well versed in creating new sustainable communities and have already taken forward villages which prioritise green space, local facilities and supporting infrastructure in Dundee, Perth, Elgin and we’re at the early stages for a new village on the outskirts of Stirling.

“As with these villages, Lingerwood has been thoughtfully designed to create a well-connected community, embracing the 20-minute neighbourhood model which promotes local, sustainable living and ensures people can access local amenities, such as shops and play parks, easily.

“Lingerwood will see the creation of a thriving village that can sustain the needs of local people for years to come. It will be a best-in-class example of placemaking, and we are confident that it will complement nearby established residential areas that already have distinct identities.

“We have worked closely with Midlothian Council and local stakeholders on our plans and their feedback has been invaluable so far. We look forward to hearing the Council’s thoughts on these designs in the coming months.”

City Council: Planning for sustainable growth and much needed new homes

City council Planning Convener Cllr James Dalgleish writes about a bold and ambitious plan agreed last week by councillors to make better use of land in the Capital:

Edinburgh’s population is growing fast and so a major highlight of City Plan 2030 is setting aside enough land to accommodate 53,000 much needed homes.

It will help to inform planning decisions going forward to guide sustainable growth and where we can we’ll agree the use of brownfield land rather than precious greenfield sites for new development.

Last year we declared a housing emergency to address the city’s chronic shortage of affordable housing so integral to the plan is that each new housing development will have to include a minimum of 35% affordable homes.

To look after the wellbeing of our residents and meet our climate goals we need to look wider than just providing new homes though. We’re going to create sustainable neighbourhoods fit for local modern living where people can afford to buy or rent their homes. Residents will have job opportunities nearby and be able to walk, or wheel to educational and healthcare facilities, enjoy cultural and sporting activities and easily access public transport to visit other parts of Edinburgh.

We’re doing this already in Granton Waterfront, where the first tenants have just moved into new affordable housing as part of our £1.3bn regeneration of the area. And along the coast at Seafield and in the west of the city we’ve allocated land to create thriving communities there too. And a masterplan for the west of the city is being considered for approval by councillors at the Planning Committee today.

It is important that we meet the needs of everyone who wants to live in our beautiful Capital. Edinburgh is also an internationally renowned university city and the plan will help guide where and how much student accommodation we have in the future. On larger sites coming forward developers will be asked to provide other housing, particularly affordable homes, allowing students to live alongside a mix of others within communities.

The plan will also help Edinburgh to transition to net zero by reducing carbon emissions from new buildings and in areas of regeneration we’re delivering new heat networks and energy infrastructure.

New environmental policies are also key as it is vital we protect our beautiful green spaces, the wellbeing of our residents, reduce flooding and improve air quality.

A robust management plan to continue to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of Old and News Towns World Heritage Site (WHS) is also supported by City Plan 2030. It is also being considered by councillors for approval at committee today and as part of our spectacular WHS we have also identified Princes Street and Waverley Valley as an area for transformation. Look out for our consultation on this starting in the coming weeks.

I’d like to thank all those residents, community groups and businesses who helped us to get City Plan 2030 over the line and acknowledge the hard work of Council officers who were part of this.

Rent controls welcomed, but more clarity needed

The introduction of rent controls has received support from the majority of the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill aims to improve housing outcomes for people who live in private rented accommodation and ensure a fair balance between protection for tenants and the rights of landlords. It comes as the Scottish Government and an increasing number of councils have declared housing emergencies.

In its report, the majority of the Committee welcomes the ambition in the provisions to re-balance the private rental sector and improve affordability for tenants. However, despite recent announcements from the Scottish Government about how the rent cap would operate in practice, the Committee has called for further clarity noting that continued uncertainty could impact investment within the sector, in turn impacting on choice and affordability for tenants.

The report also recognises that, in isolation, the Bill in itself is not the answer to the housing emergency, which has been caused by a range of factors, including the shortage of affordable and social housing, increased rents in the private sector, high inflation, freeze of housing allowance rates, labour shortages linked to Brexit, and cuts in Scotland’s capital funding settlement from the UK Government.

However, the Bill does have a role to play in better balancing tenants’ rights with landlords’ needs.

Speaking as the report launched yesterday, Committee Convener Ariane Burgess MSP said: “We are currently in the midst of a housing emergency and this Bill is an important part of the solution to address that by redressing the imbalance in the relationship between tenants and landlords.

“For rent controls to be effective, however, there is a need for certainty for both tenants and landlords about measures within the Bill and how the proposals will work. It’s disappointing that it was only last week that the Housing Minister made an announcement about how rent controls might work.

“The Bill before us does not provide detail on many aspects of how the legislation will operate, and with consultation on some aspects of the Bill continuing until 2025, there will be little room for parliamentary scrutiny in an area which is critical to get right for the long-term sustainability of the private rental sector.”

https://twitter.com/i/status/1857000722153214066

The Bill also puts in place requirements for the collection of data from private landlords in order to make a case for the creation of local rent control area . But with the onus on local authorities to collect and monitor the data, the Committee is concerned that there is a lack of resource to deliver that requirement which could hinder the effective use of rent control areas.

The Convener continued: “For rent controls to work, there must be accurate data but the Bill before us has no clear plans for robust data collection. This is why our report recommends that there is a national approach to data collection to help assess rental markets.

“We would also like to see the onus put on landlords by creating a requirement for them to routinely provide data rather than only respond to requests from local authorities.”

The Committee also welcomed measures within the Bill which support tenants’ rights to personalise their homes and their right to own pets.

It also makes recommendations for there to be more support for tenants in exercising their rights, and for landlords too to help them better understand their duties, saying that legislation is not enough on its own to achieve the necessary balance between tenants and landlords’ rights.