Tag: waterfront

Local charities left homeless as 1 Waterfront Avenue closes due to water damage

LOCAL organisations, charities and social enterprises have been left homeless due to water damage to the former Centrica building at 1 Waterfront Avenue.

The organisations lease space at Waterfront through Edinburgh Pallette, occupying floors 2 and three of the building.

Karen Black, founder and CEO of SHE Scotland, explained: “We were notified on 3rd January and it is unlikely to be fixed until next month at earliest! We have only today (Wednesday 10 January) been told we can only have limited access to small items and still no full access to our resources. 

“You can understand this had impacted negatively on local services, delivery of services, moral of staff and volunteers. At this time when the pressure on funding, staff retention, cost of living impact and now the issue with space is causing a real strain to all of us.”

Among the organisations affected are:

  • SHE Scotland
  • Scran Academy
  • Edinburgh Uniform Bank
  • North West Carers
  • Who Cares
  • Project Esperanza
  • Passion for Fusion
  • Social Print
  • Veterans Society 
  • Baby Bank
  • Sharp Stuff

The affected organisations have written to Centrica:

We are writing on behalf of a number of Edinburgh charities and small voluntary sector companies who lease space in one of your sites – 1 Waterfront Avenue, Edinburgh. You may be aware that this site has had to close due to flooding in the basement of the building. 

Fortunately, Centrica employees have been very quickly relocated to offices in another part of Edinburgh with little or no business interruption. 

Unfortunately, the other businesses who lease the space who form the signatories of this letter – all low-income charities and community interest companies – have not been supported in the same way and many face business-critical disruption. We were advised on Friday 5th January that the building would be closed until the 31st January. No priority was given to ensure access to files or materials essential for continued business operation. In fact, it was not until one week later that we were finally advised that we could enter the building accompanied to collect small items.

This closure will cause all of these voluntary sector organisations considerable business interruption and possible loss of contracts. This will directly impact the support our organisations provide for local communities, as well as risking loss of income and reputation. Not only are there business delivery consequences to this but there is a substantial human cost. The stress on our staff and volunteers of finding out that their place of work has lost its’ operating base literally overnight is considerable. 

Every tenant is now scrambling around trying to find alternative premises instead of focusing on core delivery. Delivery which is essential to the well-being of our local communities. The knock-on impacts of this are unmeasurable – businesses have been told they can have accompanied access to the building to collect ‘small items’. Where does that leave the Edinburgh School Uniform Bank, who store hundreds of uniforms to distribute to under-privileged school children or SHE Scotland who run workshops for young girls?

All these organisations have limited resources and rely on funding to survive so it is not a simple task to find alternative premises at short notice. We would like to advise you that we will be seeking compensation for business interruption and breach of lease obligations.

We feel we need to escalate this issue to a speedy resolution, and wish for Centrica to help our organisations, and the children, families and communities we support, to return to our space as quickly as possible. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Tenants of 1 Waterfront Avenue 

Waterfront Avenue office accommodation and facilities are advertised on Edinburgh Palette’s website:

Waterfront Avenue provides flexible, open-plan office accommodation in the heart of North Edinburgh’s evolving Waterfront area. The building is located adjacent to the iconic Granton Gasworks, which is due to undergo renovation to be transformed into a tree-lined amphitheatre for cultural events.

Currently occupying floors two and three. Opening hours for the building are between 8:30am and 6pm Monday to Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday. The building will also be closed on all public holidays.

Facilities include:

  • Security access, in addition to security desk, and full intruder alarm
  • Climate controlled heating and cooling
  • Good quality toilet facilities
  • Fully accessible with two passenger lifts and accessible toilets
  • Access to One Waterfront Café on the ground floor, serving a selection of hot and cold food and drinks
  • Numerous breakout areas, strategically located within the spacious open plan space
  • Secure cycle parking
  • On major bus routes: 24, 38, 47, 113, X37 & X47.
    Buses 8, 14, 16, X29, N16 & Skylink 200 all stop on West Granton Road which is a short 6-minute walk

Work starts tomorrow on Pennywell – Gypsy Brae active travel route

Greens welcome new Active Travel Route in North Edinburgh

TOMORROW (Monday) we start work on a new active travel route between Pennywell Road and Gypsy Brae including a cycle route, pedestrian improvements + landscaping.

Walking + cycling links are part of Granton Waterfront Regeneration + Western Villages.

Greens welcome new Active Travel Route in North Edinburgh

Work has begun on the construction of the Western Villages Active Travel Route which is on the boundary of Forth and Almond Wards.

The work is part of the wider regeneration of Granton Waterfront and will improve infrastructure along Marine Drive and West Shore Road between Pennywell Road Roundabout and Gypsy Brae.

Work will include a fully segregated cycle route, improved pedestrian facilities including new footways and pedestrian connections, landscaping improvements including street trees and rain gardens.

This construction is being supported by Sustrans Places for Everyone Programme and is being carried out by CCG (Scotland) Ltd.

Green Councillor for Forth Ward, Kayleigh O’Neill said: “I’m really pleased that these are improvements are on the way. This work will create a coherent active travel network for people in my ward and anyone who wants to travel through.

“It is so important that these improvements are made as we need safe, accessible and well-connected routes for people to walk, wheel and cycle in.”

“Earlier this year the Scottish Government announced the allocation of £20 million as part of its active travel funding. With Greens in the room this issue is being taken seriously and it’s amazing to see on the ground.”

https://edinburgh.gov.uk/area-regeneration/developments-far/2…

@SustransScot

Transformation of Leith continues with Ocean Point application

MORE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION PLANNED

Property developer S Harrison Developments has submitted a planning application for a c. £100 million residential-led development at Ocean Point 2 in Leith, adding to the ongoing transformation of the Waterfront and delivering further vibrancy to the area.

Neighbouring Ocean Point 1, the development of the brownfield site will provide two buildings and comprise a mix of build-to-rent homes (BTR), including apartments specifically for families, alongside purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), delivering a truly mixed community.

In total, 120 BTR homes are proposed, providing a mix of studio, one-bed, two-bed and three-bed apartments to meet a range of housing needs. A quarter of these are three-bed apartments, designed for families.

There are 404 PBSA beds on offer, split between cluster accommodation and studio bedrooms. The former accommodation is intended to be a mix of five and six bedrooms.

Student numbers have risen significantly in the city over recent years, with full-time student number growing by more than a quarter (25.1 per cent) between 2016/17 and 2021/22.

PBSA, of which there is little in the Leith area, has the potential to free-up much needed family homes locally currently occupied by students, says the developer.

Commercial space/co-working and amenity space are also proposed as part of Ocean Point 2, offering fantastic active frontage to Ocean Drive, with greatly enhanced public realm encouraging active lifestyles.

In addition to delivering homes, the new development will deliver significant local spend, amounting to some £5.3 million by residents and visitors annually, supporting an estimated 60 retail and leisure jobs. It has been estimated that 325 jobs will be created directly in the construction of the overall scheme.

The development neighbours Ocean Terminal, which is set to undergo a £100 million transformation, delivering a mixed-use development comprising residential, commercial, retail and hospitality.

The extension of the tram line between Edinburgh and Ocean Terminal also provides connectivity between the development and Edinburgh city centre within 20 minutes.

Harrison has a long pedigree of working in the city, ranging from delivering the Malmaison at St Andrew Square to student developments at Westfield and Gorgie and hotel development at Osborne House, Haymarket.

A spokesperson for Harrison Developments commented: “Our proposed development, if approved, will bring much-needed homes and student accommodation to an area which is undergoing a rapid transformation, delivering a truly mixed community.

“Regenerating a current brownfield site, this development boasts excellent transport links, especially with the new tram line, and will deliver a significant investment into the local community.”

Planning and development consultancy Turley provided planning services for the project with CDA acting as architects.

The Bell, the bell … Granton gas holder work progresses

The bell that floated up as water filled the historic gasholder in Granton Waterfront has been taken apart to make way for work to begin to restore the original 76 x 46 metre frame to look like new.

The City of Edinburgh Council plan to open up the area to create a new and exciting multifunctional public space as part of their wider £1.3bn regeneration project to create a new sustainable coastal town at Granton Waterfront.

McLaughlin & Harvey began work on the site in January of this year on behalf of the Council using £16.4m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The Scottish Government has also provided an additional £1.2m to provide a high quality public park within the gasholder frame.  

The space within the restored gasholder is to have multi-sensory play zones, a dedicated space for permanent and temporary public art, a relaxation area, outdoor trails and tracks for exercise as well as a large outdoor space for sports, markets, seasonal events, community use, festivals, performance arts, exhibitions and play.

Work will also be carried out to plant trees, shrubs and wildflowers improving biodiversity and local habitat in the area.

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “It was really dramatic to see the bell being ripped apart by the machinery. It marked a historic moment as this iconic structure will be transformed now to move on with the times to serve a completely different purpose for the local community to enjoy arts, sports and culture for future generations to come.

“Now the bell has gone the contractor can get on with the exciting work to transform the frame back to its original glory which will be seen for miles around.

“The scale and ambition of the gasholder nicely mirrors that of this £1.3bn regeneration project where we are using brownfield land to build a new sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood which is well linked to surrounding communities and is somewhere residents will be proud to live.

“We’ve already started building some of the thousands of environmentally friendly affordable homes planned and active travel routes, along with recently completing the restoration of the former Granton Station building to become a modern workplace and cultural hub, with public square.”

UK Government Minister for Levelling Up, Dehenna Davison, said: “The Granton gasholder has been part of Edinburgh’s skyline for over 120 years, and will soon be brought back to life as a real community asset.

“The bell’s removal will ensure the structure can be restored to its former glory, whilst the space will be brought into the 21st Century by becoming a destination for families, residents, and future generations to enjoy.

“We’re delighted to have supported this project through £16.4 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund which will ensure this iconic structure will serve as a beacon to people in the area for many years to come.”

Seamus Devlin, McLaughlin & Harvey Civil Engineering Director, said: “McLaughlin & Harvey is delighted to be main contractor for the restoration works at Granton gasholder.

“We bring with us a wealth of experience in the civil engineering sector, and look forward to completing the deconstruction of the bell this week and the removal of the walls in the upcoming weeks.”

Fascinating gasholder facts

  • Over 100K rivets holding the structure together
  • Total cost of original construction £18,968.
  • Was opened in 1901, making it 122 years old.
  • It’s since been painted 72 times.
  • 26 columns in total with a height of 42m. each column is 9.3m apart.
  • Granton was one of 12 gas storage tanks for the greater Edinburgh area. These 12 tanks had a combined capacity of 175,000 cubic meters of storage. At the time they were in operation the demand was around 28,000 cubic meters an hour (at its peak).
  • The lowest tier was erected with the use of a steam locomotive crane.

The Granton Gas Holder is unique as the umbrella which supports the tank roof when the system is not pressurised, was made from timber as opposed to cast iron. These timbers were in remarkably great condition when demolition began.

Granton Station Square event marks first major milestone of £1.3bn Granton Waterfront regeneration

Locals being invited to celebrate the opening of Granton Station Square this Saturday will also be given a sneak peek of the magnificently refurbished Edwardian Granton Station building.

Completion of the square and station building is the first major milestone of the City of Edinburgh Council’s wider £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront. All are invited to attend the free community event.

The site had lain vacant for years before it was bought over by the Council in 2018.  The £4.75m restoration of the building, together with the development of the square, were partly funded through the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Town Centre Fund.

The name for the square was chosen following an online consultation with local residents.

The station building will be managed by social enterprise charity Wasps Studios, who work across Edinburgh and Scotland, to provide affordable workspace for artists and the creative industries. Wasps will be taking on the building shortly to start their internal fit out.

When opened the charity will be providing space to support around 40 jobs, as well as helping around 100 people each year with creative business development opportunities. Alongside this they will deliver a heritage programme for local people and railway enthusiasts on the unique history of the location as well as providing exhibition space to showcase local talent. They’ll also host workshops and a series of outdoor and online events for locals, with the potential to attract thousands of visitors to the area.

The newly created public square in front of the building will be host to events and local community activity throughout the year.  Council leader Cammy Day will cut the ribbon to open this fantastic and innovative new public space and everyone attending will also have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the newly refurbished historic Granton Station building ahead of it officially opening later this year.

Previous Chair of Scotrail John Cameron CBE will also unveil the National Transport Trust Red Plaque ‘Red Wheel’ with Cllr Day on Granton Station building. The Transport Heritage programme commemorates Britain’s rich and globally important legacy in the development of transport.

Family fun will be part of the celebrations from 11am to 2pm on the day where visitors will meet some local crafters, makers and organisations at the market stalls and will be able to join in with play and arts activities on the lawn. There will also be performances from Edinburgh College students and the Newhaven Community Choir.

Local S3 pupils from Craigroyston Community High School have also been busy creating beautiful artwork symbolising the area with local artist Shona Hardie to be displayed from this weekend down Waterfront Broadway for everyone to see as they make their way to the event.

A history exhibition will also be displayed on the square’s two new art benches, which going forward, will provide free exhibition space year-round.

Granton Waterfront will partner with cultural organisations to curate a changing programme of work inspired by and/or created by local artists and residents on the benches.  The project was launched in March 2023 with a themed exhibition ‘Past, Present, Future’ to showcase historic and current-day images of key heritage assets within the area.

Forth Councillor Cammy Day said: “We’ve taken local people with us through every step of this process to reach this first major milestone. Seeing the refurbished Granton Station and iconic clock as well as the new square in all its glory feels very significant for the project and is another reason to come along and help us celebrate at this fantastic event.

“They sit at the heart of our £1.3bn regeneration of the wider area and will be a focal point for the community and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.

We’re creating homes, jobs and new communities at Granton Waterfront and you can already see construction well underway for the first of the 3,500 net zero carbon homes. We’re building over 70 new mid-market and social rent net zero homes, with the first new residents due to move in at the end of this year.

“And on the far side of Forthquarter Park the Western Villages site is making good progress to deliver 444 net zero homes. Also included in the plans are a new primary school, health centre, active travel routes and improved transport links, as well as workspace, community and cultural spaces.

“We’ll also be marking the start of works on the neighbouring iconic Granton Gasholder shortly. It will create a multifunctional public space that can be used and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike so look out for work starting there soon.

Scottish Government Regeneration Minister Tom Arthur said: “Completion of this project represents a significant step forward in the regeneration of Granton Waterfront.

“Through funding from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, this new work space for artists demonstrates the powerful role our communities can have in helping transform their town centres and neighbourhoods by investing in their future.”

Audrey Carlin Chief Executive Officer Wasps said: “We are very excited to be showcasing the building, which we plan to operate under the name Granton Station Creative Works, to visitors for the first time on Saturday 11 March. We hope creative people will come to view for the first time this much-needed creative hub for both the local community and Scotland’s creative sector.

“The transformation of such an important building with its strong connection to the industrial heritage of Granton has been wonderful to be part of, and a huge credit must go to the City of Edinburgh Council and their contractors for turning our collective vision for a sustainable future for this important historic building into reality.

“At Wasps, we are passionate about supporting Scotland’s creative economy, and Granton Station Creative Works is a testament to our commitment to providing affordable, high-quality workspaces, encouraging collaboration, creativity and innovation. We look forward to seeing the positive impact that this project will have on the Granton community and the wider creative economy in the years to come.”

Progress at Edinburgh’s flagship net zero carbon housing project

A major milestone has been reached on a flagship, net zero carbon housing development in Edinburgh as the first homes are now under construction. 

Located on Waterfront Avenue in Granton, ‘Plot D1’ will comprise over 70 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments alongside several commercial units. The apartments will be rented as social housing owned and managed by The City of Edinburgh Council or to households on low to middle incomes at a ‘mid-market’ rate that is lower than private rental rates. 

The development will form a significant part of the ongoing £1.3bn regeneration of Granton’s waterfront and will set a roadmap for the future of net zero carbon housing delivery in Scotland. 

This is the first of three confirmed pilot projects being delivered by The Edinburgh Home Demonstrator (EHD) – a programme providing an innovative approach to building affordable net zero carbon homes at scale. 

The Scottish Government-backed programme has engaged a community of research and development experts to show how affordable net zero carbon homes can be created at scale across the six local authorities within the Edinburgh and Southeast City Deal Region.  

Glasgow-based contractor and manufacturer CCG (Scotland) is leading construction of the ’Plot D1’ site on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council alongside a design team of architects, engineers, and energy consultants.

The firm is leveraging the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) concept of offsite manufacturing on the pilot project. Standardised panels have been manufactured in CCG’s factory, transported to site, and positioned with the use of two cranes. This has resulted in a much quicker and efficient build, with one storey a week being completed on the Granton site.

This innovative combination of techniques will be evaluated by the EHD programme and will inform the development of a blueprint for procurement, quality standards, and cost that can be used across the sector to create affordable net zero communities.

The homes are designed to reach as close to net zero carbon as possible, with the aim of lowering energy demands, eliminating carbon emissions, and improving the living environment for residents. Renewable technologies such as a communal Air Source Heat Pump System and the use of solar PV panels will combine with the home’s enhanced building fabric to achieve the net zero standard of performance.

City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Cammy Day, said: “The future of housebuilding is happening here in Edinburgh, where we are proud to lead the biggest and most innovative net zero carbon development in the country.

“The pilot itself is helping to create and support jobs in green industries like offsite sustainable manufacturing. This is exciting to see and something our wider regeneration of Granton will build on.

“What we are doing with our partners at the Granton Waterfront is truly trailblazing and will see the community become a test bed for future innovation, skills development and much needed employment opportunities – all while pioneering 75 new net zero carbon affordable homes.”

Calum Murray, CCG (Scotland) Director and EHD Board Member, said: “CCG are pioneers for offsite manufacturing in Scotland. We operate from one of the UK’s most advanced facilities and use technological procedures to create homes in a controlled setting that are inherently designed to deliver an enhanced quality standard and minimise heat loss.

“For Granton D1, we will then integrate our entirely renewable energy system onsite. This uses several measures developed in partnership with Carbon Futures that combine with this improved standard of build to achieve our net zero target.

“The EHD programme is key to helping us to reach that target and this milestone at Granton D1 will be one of many along the way. It will be an exciting journey and one in which we are delighted to be playing our part alongside the Council and our trusted partners.”

Ainslie McLaughlin, Chair of the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator Programme Project Board, said: “The homes are quickly taking shape thanks to the offsite manufacture of key components.

“The productivity gains and speed of construction delivered by offsite MMC make it an important solution in the delivery of net zero carbon homes, especially to meet the demand for affordable housing. Scotland has both the capability and resources to scale this up, there is real opportunity here.”

The programme is delivered by multiple stakeholders including partners from The City of Edinburgh Council, Offsite Solutions Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University, the University of Edinburgh, Scottish Futures Trust, and Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) and is funded by the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme and The City of Edinburgh Council.

For more information, visit: https://www.be-st.build/accelerate-to-zero/modern-methods-of-construction/edinburgh-home-demonstrator/

Community Christmas Carols on the Waterfront

WEDNESDAY 14th DECEMBER from 6 – 7.30pm

Get into the festive spirit with some free mulled wine and mince pies at our carol concert organised with @edinburghcoll next Wednesday from 6pm to 7.30pm at Granton Station Square, Waterfront Broadway.

Green light for gasometer restoration

Restoration work will now begin on the iconic gasholder, which sits at the heart of a planned new sustainable coastal town at Granton Waterfront.

A report approved by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Finance and Resources Committee yesterday (10 November) recommended McLaughlin & Harvey Limited carry out the work, which it’s anticipated will start in January and is due for completion in 2024.

The future vision for the space within the restored gasholder is to have multi-sensory play zones, a dedicated space for permanent and temporary public art, relaxation area, outdoor trails and tracks for exercise as well as using a large outdoor space for sports, markets, seasonal events, community use, festivals, performance arts, exhibitions and play.

Work will also be carried out to plant trees, shrubs and wildflowers improving biodiversity and local habitat in the area.

Council leader Cammy Day said: “I’m delighted with the committee decision. Our plan is to transform the structure, the centrepiece of our £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront, into a visitor destination with high quality open space for everyone to enjoy.

“Using money received from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund the contractor can crack on now and get spades in the ground to do the restoration work required and we’re in the process of trying to secure the additional funding we need to deliver the high quality open space element. We’ve also submitted a planning application for this exciting next stage to make sure we’re ready to go ahead when we get the funding that we need.

“The wider regeneration is about using brownfield land to develop a sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood it’s residents will be proud of. It will be an area where people live in affordable environmentally friendly homes, have excellent transport and active travel links and access to lots of open and green space, arts, sports and culture. Restoring the gasholder is the first step in unlocking the wider regeneration.”

The project will benefit from £16.4m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Port of Leith’s Heron Place shortlisted for housing award

Sustainable Granton waterfront development in the running for award  

A key element in Edinburgh’s on-going waterfront regeneration programme has been nominated as Scotland’s Best Affordable Housing Development at the prestigious Herald Property Awards ceremony to be held next month in Glasgow. 

The Heron Place development at Granton Harbour, completed by Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) and its subsidiary Persevere Developments in 2021, consists of 46 homes for social rent, including two wheelchair accessible flats, and 58 homes for mid market rent.  

The development is being recognised for the finish of the homes, the stunning views it affords of the water and Edinburgh Marina, and its sustainability. It has achieved the lowest possible Environmental Impact Rating, contains high quality insulation and is fitted with air quality monitors throughout.  

Heron Place’s contractor was CCG and the architect was Hackland + Dore. Bayne Stevenson Associates were the structural engineer, and The Keenan Consultancy was the M&E engineer. 

Heather Kiteley, Group Chief Executive, Port of Leith Housing Association, said: “We’re all very proud of the extent to which Heron Place has already become a thriving element of the rapidly evolving Granton waterfront community, providing first-class, sustainable affordable homes and brilliant communities.

“Being shortlisted for Best Affordable Housing Development at the Herald Property Awards is the icing on the cake for us.” 

Manuela Molendini, Associate Director, Hackland + Dore Architects, said: “We are delighted with the shortlisting of Heron Place, a successful outcome of productive team working and community engagement, resulting in a comprehensive regeneration and improvement of the site and of wider Western Granton.

“The mixed-tenure development provides a well-integrated placemaking solution that meets housing targets, delivers a strategic environment and a sustainable neighbourhood where communities feel connected and can thrive.” 

The development is a key element of PoLHA’s ambitious plans to deliver more than 600 high-quality, affordable homes by 2025. You can read more about this in its strategic plan polha.co.uk/2025. 

Cllr Jane Meagher: Facing up to Edinburgh’s housing challenge by building smart new homes

Councillor Jane Meagher, the city council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, writes:

After a slowdown during the pandemic, it’s great to see so much work underway to build the new affordable and sustainable homes our growing city needs. 
 
Last week I had the pleasure of marking the site start for our newest housing development – Western Villages at the new Granton Waterfront. Spanning a site the same size as the New Town, this regeneration of the waterfront really is going to create a brand new coastal community. 
 
This is growth which will benefit those who already live in the area and the city as a whole and I have to say, it’s incredible to watch the start of construction. There is a team of people working extremely hard so that, over the next decade, we’ll see drastic change and thousands of people move into beautiful new homes.

They will join a 20-minute neighbourhood where they can shop, socialise, and access support. With our partners we’re investing millions in the area, including the fantastic gas works holder, which will become an amazing spectacle; a home for events and a glowing beacon for North Edinburgh below everyone who flies into the city. 
 
I am strongly committed to doing what I can to secure more affordable homes for Edinburgh. Over 150 households bid for every Council and housing association home that becomes available so that’s why we’re driving forward with building new affordable homes on sites across the city.

Close to Granton, in nearby Pennywell and Muirhouse, new homes and a new civic centre are taking shape. We’re also investing in improving existing homes with major works underway in both multi storey blocks and low-rise housing.   
 
As the city grows, the demand we are seeing for affordable and social homes is only going to increase. That is a reality we must face, not least with the country in the grip of a cost-of-living crisis and fears of recession on the horizon.

It’s why it’s critical the Council and its partners press ahead with a truly ambitious and forward-thinking housebuilding strategy and it’s why we must continue to make the case for increased investment in this programme to the Scottish Government. Our capital city, after all, is per head the lowest funded local authority in Scotland.
  
The way we’re building homes is also changing, with innovative measures being used to reduce energy. Western Villages is a great example of that, as Scotland’s largest net zero development. We want the whole city to become net zero carbon by 2030 so we are committing to ‘build smarter’ and create new homes which are greener and use eco-friendly technology.

This construction work is also helping to boost and create new jobs and apprenticeships which will further help us to support people into employment and keep our economy resilient, which is particularly significant after the impacts of Covid. 

The future is challenging, but together with developers and others we are doing everything within our powers to make it fairer on residents and on our environment. We’ll keep working to tackle our housing pressures and deliver these affordable and sustainable new homes.

This article first appeared in the Edinburgh Evening News