SCOTLAND’S housing minister has viewed the progress at one of the country’s largest affordable new-build developments.
Paul McLennan MSP received a tour of the £80 million project at West Craigs in Edinburgh, which will see 425 homes built by Wheatley Group.
The group is building 238 homes for social rent and 187 for mid-market rent in the west of the capital.
Housing minister Paul McLennan was joined by Wheatley Group chair Jo Armstrong and chief executive Steven Henderson, as well as Helen Howden (vice chair of Wheatley Homes East) and councillor Jane Meagher (convener of the housing, homelessness and fair work committee at the City of Edinburgh Council).
Paul McLennan said, “The right to a warm, safe and affordable home is critical to wellbeing and is a right everyone deserves. Wheatley Group plays a significant role in increasing the range of housing available to rent throughout Scotland. The Scottish Government is supporting this new build development with over £41 million. This will enable the Wheatley Group to provide 425 high quality energy-efficient affordable homes here at West Craigs.
“High quality housing is a key pillar of Housing to 2040, whilst also eradicating fuel poverty and homelessness and ensuring everyone has access to green space and essential services, and I welcome the opportunity to see for myself the construction of these much-needed new affordable homes here in Edinburgh.”
The new homes will include a mix of two to four-bedroom houses, and one, two and three-bedroom flats, with 19 homes suitable for wheelchair users.
The development will also include 33 Livingwell homes, the group’s service – provided by Wheatley Care – to support older tenants to live independently, as well as 19 flats provided by Wheatley Care to support people with complex needs.
The project includes funding from the Scottish Government through the City of Edinburgh Council.
Wheatley Group chief executive Steven Henderson said, “We were delighted to welcome the housing minister to West Craigs and to see how we are turning our mission of ‘Better Homes, Better Lives’ into reality. Working with our partners in Scottish Government and the City of Edinburgh Council, we will be able to create 425 much-needed affordable homes in a highly desirable part of the country. These bright, modern, energy-efficient homes will become a key part of a fabulous new community for our tenants and families.”
The new homes form part of the wider transformation of West Craigs, which will see up to 1,200 new homes for private sale, and the creation of shops, two public parks and a primary school.
The first phase of Wheatley homes at West Craigs is due to complete by the end of 2024.
Steven Simpson, MD of The Cruden Group, who are building the new homes, added, “It’s a privilege to work on delivering this transformational new development and Wheatley Group’s biggest housing development to date. These high quality homes are packed with low-energy features, have been designed to suit a variety of differing needs and will create a vibrant new community.
“Throughout this build programme we will be bringing a range of community benefits to this area such as new jobs, apprenticeships, new training opportunities and support for a number of local community initiatives.”
