Crewe Road homes get climate ready as Council improves social housing

Hundreds of homes in Edinburgh are undergoing major energy upgrades – helping to tackle fuel poverty and carbon emissions in some of the city’s most deprived areas.

Edinburgh’s ambitious multi-million-pound retrofitting roll-out and mixed tenure improvements will make council homes ‘net zero ready’ in the coming years, with measures such as external wall insulation and solar panels being installed to improve living standards in many low-rise buildings and multi-storey blocks. 

Marking the Council’s latest set of insulation upgrades, the Housing, Homeless and Fair Work Convener Jane Meagher visited tenants in the North of the city to see how their homes have been transformed.

Along Crewe Road North and Crewe Road Gardens, at least £2.23 million has been invested this year towards making 90 homes in mixed tenure buildings warmer and cheaper to heat. The vast majority of these (70) are Council homes.

Funded by a mix of EES/ABS grants, owner contributions and Council funding, properties in the area have benefited from external wall insulation and in many cases replacement roofing, with all works delivered by Insulated Render Systems (IRS) in partnership with the Council, Changeworks and Home Energy Scotland.

Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “It’s hard to describe the huge difference these measures will make: to the fabric and warmth of these homes, to people’s fuel bills and to the environment, and of course to the lives of everyone who lives in them now and in the future.

“By bringing these older homes up to a newer energy efficiency standard, we’re not only driving down carbon emissions, we’re clamping down on issues like damp and fuel poverty. It’s complex work but it’s vital because it prioritises our tenants and their living standards.

“It has been a pleasure to meet with some of the residents and to hear their feedback and I’m pleased to see the real difference the building work is making. The works taking place along Crewe Road are an indication of more upgrades to come. Just think what we could achieve if we were to receive the funding we need to roll this programme out even further, to improve even more of our tenants’ homes?

“I’m grateful to the partners involved in supporting this roll-out and to our tenants, whose rents help towards paying for improvements to council homes alongside grant funding. Edinburgh faces a Housing Emergency and we need to tackle it together.”

Josiah Lockhart, Chief Executive of Changeworks, said: “Changeworks has worked in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council on a number of EES ABS projects and it’s great to see the fabric improvements made to properties here on Crewe Road.

“Ongoing high energy costs mean that these energy efficiency projects make a real difference to householders, helping them stay warm and save energy as well as reducing carbon emissions.”

Green measures have also been installed to homes in Gilmerton, where over 180 eligible private home owners and tenants are benefitting from £2.5 million investment over two years towards solar PV panels and battery energy storage, external wall insulation and upgrades to the look of buildings. Future upgrades with Changeworks are also planned for homes in the Liberton area in the year ahead.

Elsewhere in the city, at least £2.2 million has been invested by the Council to transform a block of 36 homes in Oxgangs into a modern looking, sustainable building with upgrades to the roof and coverings, external walls, stairwells, and common landings.

The Council is now looking to undertake a whole house retrofit of the multistorey blocks May and Gunnet and is carrying out design work for blocks in Leith, Mixed tenure improvements also taking place in Lochend, Restalrig and in Wester Hailes.

Edinburgh Leisure: Investing for future health

Another of Edinburgh Leisure’s gyms has had a major makeover, following hot on the heels of the recent one at the much-loved Leith Victoria gym.

Gracemount Leisure Centre’s gym has undergone a refurbishment and reopened today – Saturday, 9th December.  This follows a huge renovation at another of their gyms, Leith Victoria Swim Centre, with it becoming the first gym in Scotland to get new high-tech SE4 consoles from Life Fitness, aimed at improving workouts.

New cardiovascular (CV) equipment is being upgraded to the latest model, SE4. This new CV kit gives the option of on-demand workouts, additional fitness testing and connectivity to apps such as Netflix and Spotify on a 24-inch HD screen, built in wireless charging and improved touch screen capacity. Some new bits of kit include an additional Powermill, a concept 2Ski-Erg, Watt Bike and Arc Trainer.

Resistance kit includes a new glute drive, Plate loaded Lateral row, and equipment upgrade on all their current models. Improvements to the free-weights areas is being made by the addition of another half rack and dumbbell benches and increasing the floor area. Dumbbells will increase up to 50kg, in addition to upgrading bars and weight plates, as well as functional equipment such as kettlebells.

There will be a new designated area for their Gym Based Circuit Classes, included as part of an Edinburgh Leisure full fitness or gym membership, and there will be brand-new flooring throughout the gym.

Gracemount have also introduced a new Boditrax body composition scanner. Others can be found in the gyms at Meadowbank Sports Centre, the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Leith Victoria Swim Centre, and Drumbrae Leisure Centre.

Boditrax is a quick, easy and accurate tool for measuring body metrics. By using it, customers will have a better understanding of body composition and overall fitness levels.  Free for members to access whenever they visit the gym, they can easily monitor their progress.

Like Gracemount, Leith Victoria’s gym has also had a recent upgrade with the installation of the new cutting edge SE4 machines Additional racks for weight-lifters, new dumbbell benches, a Hammer Strength Air Bike and an Arc Trainer were also added, as were new stations in the gym for beginners looking to get started on their own personal fitness journey.

Studio 1, located off the gym, was also given a makeover, receiving a lick of paint as well as having the floors and stage sanded and varnished. 

Leith Victoria previously underwent renovations in 2020 which included a refurbishment of the changing areas in the pool, updated lighting and heating to improve efficiency and works to restore damage to the outside of the property.

Ally Strachan, Fitness Development Manager at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re really excited about being the first gyms in Scotland to get the new high-tech SE4 Life Fitness consoles, which will really improve and enhance the customers’ experience.

“Edinburgh Leisure is constantly reinvesting thousands of pounds in improving our venues and equipment to ensure that customers are guaranteed as good an experience as any they might have at a private gym, but with the added bonus of flexibility and choice.  As the biggest club in town, we like to think that wherever you’re at on the map or in life, Edinburgh Leisure has something to suit you, with a budget to match.”

Edinburgh Leisure is currently offering a Winter pass promotion. A short-term alternative to a full-time membership, the two-week pass costs just £20 for 14 days.

Available to buy online or in venue from to 18th December, the Winter Pass includes unlimited access to all Edinburgh Leisure’s 17 state-of-the-art gyms, 12 swimming pools, the Turkish Baths at Portobello Swim Centre, over 750+ fitness classes per week, and Europe’s largest climbing arena at Ratho, and represents excellent value for money.

www.edinburghleisure.co.uk