SCOTLAND’S housing minister Paul McLennan has marked official completion of Lovell Partnerships’ affordable housing by visiting the Oakwood Edge development in Mayfield, near Dalkeith.
The 39 properties have now been handd eover to Melville Housing Association.
The £7.1 million development, backed by £3.94 million in Scottish Government grant funding, has provided a range of homes for social rent as part of a wider 156-home project. The mix of affordable housetypes includes one and two-bedroom cottage flats, one, two, and three-bedroom terraced homes, and two wheelchair-accessible bungalows.
All homes feature solar PV panels and communal EV charging points. Four homes have also been enhanced to achieve net zero status, featuring air source heat pumps, battery storage and triple glazing.
Lovell revealed it has embedded social value throughout the project. Lovell, in partnership with suppliers H&C Plumbing, Jordan Electrics, Phoenix Decorators, Tough Construction and JAD joinery, supported local youth charity Y2K and Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust (MAEDT) to improve their community spaces.
Local primary school students were also invited on-site to learn about construction careers and health and safety. And every social housing resident will receive an air fryer to help reduce energy bills.
Housing minister Paul McLennan said, “It was good to have a tour of Melville Housing Association’s new social rented development and meet one of the tenants whose new home is part of Oakwood Edge near Dalkeith. What is particularly impressive about this development is the range, quality and energy efficiency of these houses, alongside the existing community facilities in the area.”
Tony Rankin, regional MD at Lovell, added, “At Lovell, we believe building homes is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about creating lasting value for communities. Oakwood Edge is a great demonstration of how we integrate social impact into every stage of development and we’re incredibly proud of what’s been achieved here alongside our partners, Melville Housing Association.”
Donna Bogdanovic, chair of Melville Housing Association, commented, “This development, our second with Lovell, is a fantastic example of how partnerships can deliver real results for communities. The homes at Oakwood Edge provide much-needed, high-quality social housing in an area of high demand. So far, 11 tenants have moved into their new homes and we’re delighted with the positive feedback we have already received from our new tenants.”
