LAR Housing Trust has appointed Clark Contracts to deliver a multi-million pound housing project in Edinburgh.
The firm will be tasked with converting Westwood House, an empty office building on Gorgie Road, into 47 mid-market rental flats. LAR, a Fife-based housing charity, purchased Westwood House in December last year and secured planning permission for the organisation’s first commercial to residential conversion project earlier this year.
LAR chief executive Ann Leslie said, “We are delighted to have appointed Clark Contracts for such an important project, which marks our first foray into the Edinburgh market. This was a modern open plan office building, but will now be converted into high quality flats in an area of the city in desperate need of affordable rental homes.”
The completed development will comprise 18 one-bed, 27 two-bed and two three-bed flats. Work is scheduled to get underway this month and is due to finish in summer 2019.
Michael Scanlan, director at Clark Contracts added, “We are looking forward to completing this landmark project for LAR Housing Trust. We are equally excited to be delivering their first project in Edinburgh which will provide much needed affordable housing for the local area.”
LAR confirmed it is also purchasing 40 homes in a second former office block in the area, Chesser House, with tenants expected to move into the development by next summer.
