A local construction worker has been praised for his contribution to all three phases of the Pennywell Living development.
Muirhouse resident Roy Graham (59) has played a vital role in the development of the site from its inception. Starting out as a labourer with Robertson in 2014, Roy has worked his way up to ganger, where he is responsible for his own team.
He said, “Having lived in Muirhouse my whole life it’s fantastic to see how the community has grown and changed over the course of the development of Pennywell Living. Working with Robertson throughout the regeneration project has allowed me to feel involved in the work going on in the community and I’ve been able to use my local knowledge and experience to support my team.
“Each phase of the development has brought so many new people to the area which has been brilliant for Muirhouse, something which I’m sure will continue for each new phase to come.”
Neil McKay, MD at regeneration specialist Urban Union added, “Supporting the local economy by employing those within the community is really important to us here at Urban Union as it helps local people become involved in the regeneration process while also utilising their unique local perspective which is essential for any successful development. Roy’s exemplar attitude, brilliant work ethic and passion to serve the local community has been instrumental in his five years working at Pennywell and we are very grateful to have people like him as part of our team.”
James Freel, MD at Robertson Partnership Homes commented, “At Robertson it’s very important to have people like Roy working with us – he’s a really vital part of our team. Being local means he has a direct connection to the community and that is hugely valuable to the delivery team throughout the time we are on site. Everyone at Robertson is proud of Roy and also of the overall work at Pennywell which is having a truly transformative effect on the area.”
The Pennywell development has benefited from an investment of £42 million by The City of Edinburgh Council and includes £7.9 million grant funding from the Scottish Government. Urban Union launched the third phase in July.