Hi All,
Join us on our Community Open Day tomorrow – Thursday 4th July – with Places for People.
12 Midday to 2.30pm
We are inviting our local community to come along with your children for some fun, treats and special activities!
We won’t have PY Dinners on the day but we will have hot dogs and sweet treats instead.
If your child is under 8 you will need to accompany them.
PY Team.
On Thursday, (6th June), the Scottish Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan, visited Longniddry Village, an award-winning development from Places for People and Cruden Homes in association with Wemyss and March Estates.
Located on the East Lothian coast, the development’s current success represents the value and positive influence of multi-tenure communities in Scotland.
During the Minister’s visit, he met representatives from the development and discussed how working together on mixed-tenure developments like Longniddry Village enables the creation of thriving communities and provides solutions to Scotland’s housing crisis, where 110,000 households are currently on the waitlist for social housing.
In research recently commissioned by Places for People, three-quarters of Scotland respondents believe new developments should be multi-tenure and over 80% believe they should offer community facilities, such as cafes, restaurants, and shared social spaces.*
Named ‘Large Development of the Year’ at the Homes for Scotland Awards 2023, Longniddry Village comprises affordable housing as well as homes for private sale. This not only appeals to a range of prospective buyers, from first-time buyers to downsizers but also helps to support Scotland’s vision for everyone across the country to have a safe, warm, and affordable home that meets their needs.
The Minister’s visit involved a tour of Longniddry Village, where he saw the first phase of the development, which showed the delivery of outright sale, affordable rented housing, and older living properties.
This was followed by a tour of the ambitious conversion of the historic Longniddry Steading where a number of the commercial space are nearing completion, followed by the second phase of residential development, where he could see Longniddry Village’s mid-market rent offering and plans for other sales tenures.
Places for People understand placemaking and have successfully delivered mixed-tenure communities of blended development before, such as Tornagrain in the Scottish Highlands. The organisation understands that by focusing on this way of building it can remove the stigma of social housing and act as another way to address the housing crisis.
Colin Jack, Production Director for Places for People comments: “It was wonderful to show the Scottish Minister for Housing around Longniddry Village, where he could see our progress and witness the growing and friendly mixed-tenure community, who are enjoying their new homes in this idyllic setting.
“However, our main topic of discussion remained on the current housing crisis, and how we can work collaboratively to deliver the new homes required. With an overwhelming number of households on the waiting list for social housing, we need to find solutions that can support developers to build at the scale and pace required to address our housing shortages.
“At Places for People, we are committed to building new homes as we see it as our responsibility and will look to deliver 2,500 new affordable homes across Scotland in the next five years. As a social enterprise, all our profits are recycled back into the organisation, so we can focus on helping those struggling the most to meet their living needs.”
Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “The new mid rent homes at Longniddry Village will play a valuable role in boosting Scotland’s affordable housing supply.
“Everyone deserves a warm and safe place to call home and these high-quality, energy efficient properties will help to meet the needs of the local community for generations to come.”
PICTURED: L-R: Martin Andrews, Factor at Wemyss & March Estates; Housing Minister, Paul McLennan; Colin Jack, Production Director at Places for People; Fraser Lynes, Managing Director at Cruden Homes; Edward Taylor, Taylor Urbanism)
With freezing temperatures cutting across the country, social enterprise Places for People is supporting the three warm spaces across Edinburgh to provide a safe and warm space for the community this winter.
It comes as part of their national support of over 25 warm spaces across the UK this year providing safe and warm spaces for people in social isolation and those suffering from fuel poverty over the winter months.
Warm spaces aim to support local people who may be at risk of fuel poverty or may be feeling lonely or isolated. A warm space can be any community building and will provide a confidential, warm, and friendly environment for people to socialise over refreshments and take part in activities.
Magdalene Community Centre, Gilmerton Community Centre, and Newtongrange Development Trust are warm spaces open to all where they can meet others, enjoy a hot drink, get involved in activities and stay warm.
Marcus Hulme, Director of Places Impact at Places for People commented: “As the cost-of-living continues to rise we know that many people are struggling with their energy bills and other general household bills.
“We are committed to finding ways to help and support our communities through these difficult times, and are proud to be supporting spaces for people to go where they can not only feel safe and warm but also where they can socialise and be part of a community.”
For the second year in a row, Places for People has chosen to support warm spaces within their communities to offer a space for people in social isolation and those suffering from fuel poverty over the winter months.
The impact that cost-of-living crisis is having on local communities continues to show and demand for these types of spaces is growing, with support from their Social Impact fund, Places for People are investing £5 million in activities to support customers and communities including warm spaces to address the cost-of-living crisis.
Opening times of the warm spaces vary; Gilmerton Community Centre’s warm space is open Tuesday to Thursday from 2 pm until 5:30 pm. Magdalene Community Centre’s warm space is open Monday and Thursday from 9:30 am until 2:45 pm. Newtongrange Development Trust’s warm space is open on Thursdays between 1 pm and 4 pm.
More information on the warm hubs being supported by Places for People can be found here:
https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/about-us/community/community-projects/
Social Enterprise, Places for People has continued its support of local food banks with £8,500 of funding to help provide individuals and families with essential items over the winter period.
The funding was allocated following Places for People annual survey which found that 26% of customers in Scotland were struggling financially. A number of customers also stated that they had ran out of food provisions and many expressed an interest in food-related cost-of-living support. It comes after the Trussel Trust reported a 16% increase in demand on local foodbanks between April and September 2023.
The foodbanks that will be supported include:
· Edinburgh Food Project – with seven centres the funding from Places for People will look to benefit over 150 people with food parcels, totally over £5,500.
· The Vennie Food Outlet in Livingston, West Lothian – the centre based at Mosswood Community Centre will see over £1,500 going to support over 100 individuals through the donation.
· Newtongrange Development Trust in Newtongrange – the self-referral service for local residents, which opens on Sundays will receive £1,500 to support discounted weekly shops.
This support is one of the ways Places for People works in their communities to make a difference and support activities across a wide range of areas.
Selected schemes are based on the insight from their annual survey and targeted based on local needs. By taking this approach, Places for People has identified 9 foodbanks to allocate funding to.
In addition to the funding, Places for People is working directly with each foodbank to ensure that the customers who access the service are offered further support by being referred to any relevant support.
Marcus Hulme, Director of Places Impact at Places for People commented: “We have seen first-hand the impact that the cost-of-living crisis is having on communities, and we want to do everything we can to support our customers and communities through this difficult time.
“The rise in the use of foodbanks across the country is deeply concerning, we hope that this funding will help to support our local foodbanks and help provide people with the essentials they need.
“This funding is only part of the continuing work we are doing to support our customers and communities, between April 2022 and March 2023 we provided £750,000 of financial support through our Cost of Living Fund including rent relief and vouchers for essentials including food and fuel. A fund which we have dedicated more funds to this financial year.”
Places for People has an ongoing commitment to support communities, in April 2023 they dedicated £1 million to their cost-of-living fund to help ease the challenge of the steeply rising cost of living, the fund is used to support customers with food and fuel vouchers, rent and service charge relief as well as energy efficient packs.
Following seven years of construction the final phase of Places for People’s The Engine Yard is now open.
The iconic, former tram depot located in Leith, originally opened in 1898 as the Shrubhill Tramway Workshops and Power Station, the workshops were where Edinburgh’s trams were built and maintained.
However, following the demise of the cable-hauled trams in 1923 and, three decades later, the electric ones that followed, Shrubhill Works’ fate was effectively sealed.
In November 1956, the last tram service terminated at the depot, which was briefly repurposed as a bus depot, a museum and finally a Fringe venue before a leaking roof caused it to be abandoned completely, leaving the site to run into disrepair.
In 2020 LDN Architects with Places for People put forward an imaginative plan for the former brownfield site to deliver a desirable, mixed-tenure community that would not only recognise the history of the site but act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the local area.
Roddy MacDonald, Places for People Regional Managing Director of Developments, Scotland commented: “The Tram Sheds represents a tremendous feat for Places for People as a housebuilder.
“The restoration of the historic tram depot into 43 modern luxury apartments has taken years of careful consideration, consultation and planning. I am delighted with the finished product and I’m sure our purchasers will be too.
“With our strong and diverse experience in buying, planning and building award-winning developments – and with the completion of The Engine Yard’s final, impressive phase – we’ve delivered something truly distinctive just a stone’s throw away from Edinburgh’s bustling city centre.
“It’s wonderful to witness this thriving community now come to life with a hive of creativity and cultural diversity packed with eclectic shops, bars and restaurants, just a short walk from the city centre – fast become one of Edinburgh’s most exciting new places to live.”
LDN Architect’s Partner in Charge Ángel Morales-Aguilar, comments on the intricate – yet ultimately rewarding process – of keeping this iconic piece of Edinburgh’s industrial heritage alive: “For us, the main challenge lay in effectively integrating the new buildings within the existing ones.
“Essential fabric repair work was required to make the buildings structurally sound while ensuring that their unique character was retained. From a purely practical perspective, gaining access to and working around the existing site presented a whole new challenge of its own.
“But the result is phenomenal. Being able to save these two industrial gems – the Big Shed and the Wee Shed – is rewarding enough in itself, but introducing a new dimension to the space through the central courtyard and upper levels has been my favourite part. Until now, no one has been able to experience The Tram Sheds like this.”
The latest addition to the Engine Yard development sees a collection of forty-three high-specification one, two and three-bedroom homes, built into the original structure, and bringing a fusion of old and new style against an aging architecture.
The mix of apartments and duplexes offers unique urban living within a charming, historic setting. Each spacious home encompasses a contemporary, open-plan design, with the ultra-modern industrial theme marrying happily with the traditional character of the past. Beautiful arched and oval windows offer stunning views of Edinburgh and beyond.
The heritage-led design continues into the outer spaces while the historical octagonal brick chimney – visible from Leith Walk – provides a magnificent focal point. There’s even an underground car park.
Prices for homes at the Engine Yard start at £267,500.
For further information about the development please visit: The Engine Yard | New homes in Edinburgh City Centre | Places for People
PICTURED: Left to right – Roger Tulloch, Senior Project Manager, Allison Sutherland, Regional Sales and Marketing Director, Roddy Macdonald, Managing Director, Scotland Developments and Colin Jack, Regional Production Director.
FRESH START’s next English conversation café will be on Monday 23rd October, 9am-11am at Fresh Start Hub (28-30 Ferry Road Drive) in the Welcome space.
There will be tea, coffee and biscuits and a qualified ESOL Teacher on site to chat, play some language games and support people in their learning.
Please do share with your networks and bring anyone along who may wish to practise their English and learn more about the classes,
THE WILLOW NO MORE – another local boozer bites the dust
A planning application by Alumno Group for high-quality purpose-built student accommodation, including ground floor commercial space at Jock’s Lodge, has been submitted to City of Edinburgh Council.
The proposals by the specialist student accommodation provider are located on the corner of Restalrig Road South and London Road.
The development will include 191 student rooms and the constrained nature of the site on a busy main arterial route means that it is well suited to student accommodation. This will serve to address rapidly increased demand and provide a much-needed boost for local businesses through delivering increased footfall.
Existing local businesses on the site all agreed to its sale and are committed to the redevelopment of the site, as current facilities are no longer commercially viable.
Development will comprise a mix of single bedrooms with shared kitchens and larger studio style bedrooms. Facilities provided will include a ground floor lounge, study, gym and social spaces, with generous cycle storage provision, laundry and storage.
External amenity provision includes a rear landscaped courtyard and external terraces at roof level. Largely car-free, the development will have two parking spaces included, one of which will be an accessible/disabled parking space.
Following an extensive pre-application and public engagement process, a series of design changes and developments have been realised:
Prior to taking on a temporary management agreement for The Willow at Jock’s Lodge, the operators were advised of the planned sale of the site by Heineken, who identified it for disposal due to a chequered trading history.
They were offered it on a limited tenure and opted to take it on that basis while the negotiations to redevelop the site were finalised. The operators currently operate on a very minimum rent/utility-free basis.
Alumno has a strong reputation for commissioning new artworks for its developments and is working with arts consultant, Matthew Jarratt, to deliver a series of sculpture and other artwork commissions which will be integrated into the new building and public realm by Edinburgh-based artist, Kenny Hunter.
Local artists and students/recent graduates from Edinburgh College of Art will also be engaged in design projects and given the opportunity to showcase their works at the site.
Having assessed the number of existing and proposed purpose-built student accommodation developments in the area, along with analysing the existing concentration of students, it is clear there is not a significant number of new purpose-built student accommodation overall in this area when set against an Edinburgh context.
Even if the development is delivered, the concentration of students will remain within an acceptable threshold. If approved, the eight developments that are within a mile radius of the site (including Jock’s Lodge), will amount to 1,666 bedrooms, giving a student population of 4.3 per cent in terms of purpose-built accommodation in that location. Combined with other students i.e. those not living in purpose-built accommodation, this results in a total of 3,523 students or 8.9 per cent of the population.
In addition, if approved, the number of full-time students living in the Craigentinny/ Duddingston ward (in which the Jocks Lodge site sits) will only rise to 10.1 per cent of the resident population if all the accommodation that is currently in use, has been approved, or is at application stage, is delivered.
This level would still be significantly lower than the proportions of full-time students living in the Southside/Newington, City Centre, Meadows/Morningside and Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart wards.
It is anticipated that spending in the local area by the students living at the Jock’s Lodge development is estimated to be more than £900,000 per year, and at its peak during the construction phase it is estimated that the site will employ a workforce of up to 40.
David Campbell, founder of Alumno said: “This exciting mixed-use scheme will serve to ease the acute housing pressures by providing greater options whilst addressing the increasing and well documented student housing demand by providing modern, high quality and well managed accommodation.
“We have listened to the responses of the local community through our thorough consultation process and have reduced the height of the building to accommodate this feedback.
“Employment and investment will be generated both during construction and once complete, increasing footfall to local shops and also serving to provide a new sustainable food/drink outlet for the community, including outdoor space. We are committed to being a good neighbour and believe our plans will make the best and most positive impact on what is a highly constrained and challenging urban site.”
Established in 2006, Alumno is part of Places for People, a property management, development and regeneration company based in the UK.
Alumno specialises in the design and development of high-quality, modern accommodation for students.
Helping to spread some festive cheer, leading social enterprise, Places for People hosted a fabulous Christmas event at The Engine Yard in Edinburgh last week to continue its support of the NE Edinburgh Food Bank run by the Trussell Trust.
This is one of seven food banks operated across North-West, Central and East Edinburgh, which in total provided 1,059 meals in September 2022. Over half a ton of food was donated (worth approximately £2,500) along with £200 in cash thanks to the generosity of The Engine Yard residents, the Places for People developments’ team and on-site subcontractors.
This generous donation will help the foodbank to provide emergency food parcels to individuals, families and children who are most in need during the festive period.
Residents from The Engine Yard flocked next door to Grace Church, along with colleagues from Port of Leith Housing Association, Scottish Futures Trust, RMG and Greg Reed Group CEO for Places for People where they enjoyed a selection of tasty seasonal treats from the delicious Embo Deli.
Revellers meandered through Christmas-inspired craft stalls and residents got into the festive spirit by sporting their favourite Christmas jumpers for the chance of winning a prize.
Kevin Bunyan, Senior Site Manager at The Engine Yard, for Places for People comments: “I would like to express my special thanks to the Grace Church and our Sales Team for organising a fun afternoon where food and drink were given out to local residents who have also kindly donated to the food bank this year.
“The Engine Yard has supported the Edinburgh NE Foodbank for many years, with donations from Places for People and our onsite sub-contractors.”
Alison Roxburgh General Manager of the NE Edinburgh Food Bank comments: “I would like to thank the Places for People team and the subcontractors at The Engine Yard for their generosity and support once again this year.
“My thanks also go to everybody involved in promoting the Food Bank Christmas Appeal 2022 to ensure its success at a time when it is most needed.”
Enjoying a prime position close to Edinburgh’s city centre and once a historic tram depot on Leith Walk, The Engine Yard forms part of a superb regeneration story and is fast becoming the city’s newest destination to reside in.
Boasting rich industrial architecture, with tram sheds, a chimney, a boundary wall and gables, the area is now being sensitively restored to create a unique development of 377 homes that elegantly combines old and new in one place.
For more information about The Engine Yard, please visit:
www.placesforpeople.co.uk/find-a-home/homes-to-buy or call 07919 381278.
One thousand new homes will be delivered across Scotland through the latest affordable housing investment fund. Continue reading £47.5 million Places for People loan to boost mid-market rent housing stock
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Housing Minister Margaret Burgess welcomed new tenants to the first completed phase of Miller Homes’ Varcity North development in North Edinburgh yesterday.
In total, 89 new apartments, consisting of one, two and three bedrooms, will be available at mid-market rental rates at the development.
In 2011, Miller Homes, the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) created a limited liability partnership (LLP) as part of the National Housing Trust’s initiative (NHT), aimed at fast-tracking the delivery of new homes for mid-market rental throughout Scotland.
The LLP is working with managing agent Places for People to manage the completed properties, identify potential tenants and manage the rentals over the contract term.
Rent First@Varcity North will be available for rent to selected tenants, (employed on a minimum salary of £10k per annum, but struggling to find an affordable home to rent).
Under the NHT initiative’s rules, homes must be available to rent for a five year period, following which, tenants will have the choice to purchase their house at the market value or move on. Should tenants select not to buy, Miller Homes will sell the property on the open market.
Housing Minister, Margaret Burgess said: “It is fantastic to see house developers like Miller Homes embrace the opportunities offered by the Scottish Government’s pioneering National Housing Trust initiative. These new homes at Varcity North will go some way towards providing much needed affordable rented accommodation for Edinburgh residents.
“The initiative has been hugely successful, with deals secured with 13 developers to deliver over 1000 high quality homes for families throughout Scotland at very little cost to the taxpayer. A vibrant, expanding housing sector stimulates growth and protects and creates jobs in the construction sector and wider economy.”
David Knight, Managing Director, Miller Homes Scotland said: “We are delighted to bring the mid-market rental homes to market slightly ahead of schedule. Securing affordable housing in Edinburgh remains difficult and the challenging lending environment also means that buying is still out of reach for some households.
“The 89 apartments will go some way to helping those in employment secure an affordable rental tenancy. The apartments are developed to Miller Homes’ high standards of the quality of the build, fixtures and fittings and will form part of vibrant, modern development, which is quickly establishing its own sense of community.
“Rent First@Varcity North provides much needed homes at affordable rents for key workers and has also created vital local employment opportunities within the house building industry.”
Rents per month are set at £457.20 for a one bedroom, £594.39 for a two bedroom en-suite apartment and a limited number of three bedroom apartments available. Further details are available from Miller Homes.
Councillor Norman Work represented the city council at the event. He said: “The affordable homes available at Varcity North are a welcome addition to the market in Edinburgh. We continue to tackle the shortage in affordable homes and look for opportunities like the LLP with Miller Homes and Scottish Futures Trust to bring these very welcome homes to fruition.
“With around one half of the national uptake of NHT being in Edinburgh that gives us a sizable amount of homes available for rent. Not only will it enhance the local community, it will also offer a significant boost for those who are in work, who can’t afford to rent at full market rent.
“It is a great model to increase availability of the number of homes for rent in the city and gives people a real opportunity to become tenants and secure a home of their own and save for the future.”
Christa Reekie, commercial director at Scottish Futures Trust said: “I am delighted that the first phase of homes is now complete, providing hundreds of people in the capital with high-quality homes at affordable rents. We are pleases with the high standards of the Varcity North development which has already attracted a great deal of interest.”
Miller Homes purchased the Varcity North site as part of a larger transaction from Telford College, which comprised three campuses (Telford South, Telford West and Telford North). The development of Telford West campus for Home Scotland Housing Association (40 affordable dwellings) was completed in 2010.
Telford South is now known as Varcity South and has become one of the city’s – and Miller Homes’ – flagship developments. The last campus, now known as Varcity North, comprises 327 apartments within five new build blocks and a possible converted building. The apartments under the NHT initiative are within the Dundas Campus and the Dean Campus.
