LOVELL Partnerships and Melville Housing Association have won the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Excellence in Affordable Housing award for their project delivering 39 energy-efficient affordable homes at the Oakwood Edge development in Mayfield.
The £7.1 million development, backed by £3.94 million in Scottish Government grant funding, has provided a range of energy-efficient homes for social rent as part of a wider 156-home development.
The selection of affordable housetypes includes 1- and 2-bedroom cottage flats, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom terraced homes and 2 wheelchair-accessible bungalows, providing a variety of housing options to meet different needs within the community.
The homes sit alongside private for sale properties in a fully tenure-blind layout that creates a genuine social mix. All homes at Oakwood Edge are designed to meet high energy efficiency standards, with solar PV panels, water-efficient fixtures that reduce usage by 30% and communal electric vehicle charging points.
Each home achieves an energy performance certificate (EPC) of B, well above the national average. They also meet Silver Aspects 1 and 2, the Scottish benchmark for sustainable building, which set higher targets for reducing carbon emissions and lowering energy demands for heating.
Four homes have also been upgraded to achieve Net Zero status, featuring triple glazing and battery storage as well as air source heat pumps. Their performance is being monitored against gas-heated homes in the development to assess their impact on tenant energy costs and inform future sustainability plans.
Each home was built with integrated sprinkler systems to enhance resident safety, reflecting the commitment to secure living environments. The Oakwood Edge development was awarded Secured by Design Gold status, the highest accolade from the police’s flagship crime prevention initiative, recognising its outstanding physical security and design measures that help protect residents, and deter criminal activity.
This CIH award is the second national recognition for Oakwood Edge, which was also a finalist in the Community Contribution Award at the Scottish Home Awards for its community engagement efforts.
Lovell embedded social value throughout the project, generating an impressive £1.78 million in social and local economic value by supporting local employment, training, and community projects.
Support has included improvements to community spaces for local charities Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust (MAEDT) and Y2K Youth Project, educational engagement with local school pupils, and cost-of-living support, with each resident receiving an air fryer to help lower running costs.
Tony Rankin, regional MD at Lovell, said, “Oakwood Edge is an example of how affordable homes can be built to very high standards, provide excellent energy efficiency and deliver real long-term value to their communities. This award is a credit to everyone involved and to our strong partnership with Melville Housing Association.”
Neil Edgar, development manager at Melville Housing Association, added, “This development is a welcome boost for families in Midlothian, especially at a time when demand for affordable housing is so high.
“The feedback from tenants has been very positive, particularly regarding energy efficiency and comfort. Oakwood Edge is our second project with Lovell and demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations work together with a clear focus on quality and community. It’s a great way for us to celebrate our 30th anniversary.”
Callum Chomczuk, national director at CIH Scotland, commented, “My heartfelt congratulations to all our award winners and nominees. Once again, we have acknowledged an extremely high standard in these awards and that reflects the innovation and dedication across the housing sector in Scotland.
The Scotland Housing Awards and the Good Practice Compendium continue to be at the heart of CIH Scotland‘s commitment to sharing good practice and building a community of housing professionals who go above and beyond to make a difference to all of our lives.”
