TWO affordable housing developments owned by The City of Edinburgh and East Lothian Councils are demonstrating how a collaborative approach, modern methods of construction and repeatable house designs can help accelerate the delivery of new homes.
The developments at Wallyford in East Lothian and Burdiehouse in Edinburgh are being built simultaneously and will deliver a total of 109 affordable, council-owned properties.
These sites represent the first construction projects to be facilitated through the South East Regional Delivery Alliance (SE-RDA) which is partnered by the Scottish Futures Trust, and when complete next summer have the potential to provide housing for over 370 people.
The projects are said to be generating efficiencies through consecutive site assessments and the use of standardised house and flat typologies, and when operational will be net zero ready thanks to air source and exhaust air heat pumps and increased levels of insulation.
This SE-RDA approach has enabled the developments to use very similar designs and construction methods, aimed at streamlining the design and delivery process while maintaining ‘high-quality, sustainable’ homes tailored to their respective locations.
Both sites are utilising CCG’s offsite modern methods of construction. CCG manufactures its closed panel ‘iQ’ Timber System at its manufacturing premises in Glasgow, where components including insulation, wall linings, and their own windows and doors are pre-installed in a controlled factory setting before being transported to site.
Speaking on Scottish Housing Day, Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal joint committee convener, and the City of Edinburgh Council leader, Jane Meagher, said, “Burdiehouse is one of several new developments under construction across the city which, once complete, will provide high quality and efficient affordable homes to hundreds of people. This innovative, collaborative approach across the two sites, including standardised designs and streamlined processes, has led to more efficient project delivery.
“By working together with South East Regional Delivery Alliance partners we can strengthen our response to the housing emergency and accelerate the delivery of the affordable homes that we so urgently need.”
Councillor Andy Forrest, East Lothian cabinet spokesperson for housing & property maintenance, added, “This innovative method of redeveloping the site of the old Wallyford Primary School is a great example of partnership working. East Lothian is particularly affected by the national shortage of affordable and social housing as we are one of the fastest growing local authorities so projects like this one that provide quality homes for those who most need them are to be welcomed.”
CCG MD David Wylie said, “It is extremely positive to see these two projects progressing through construction and contributing to the delivery of much-needed affordable homes across Edinburgh and East Lothian. Wallyford and Burdiehouse were both directly awarded to CCG, a procurement route that enables us to engage at an early stage and work collaboratively with our clients and design teams to generate time and cost efficiencies before construction begins.
“Once on site, design standardisation and our approach to modern methods of construction deliver further efficiencies, with homes being built faster, more cost effectively, and to a consistently high quality standard. This delivery model ultimately helps us to collectively address the immediate and long-term wellbeing of our communities, and presents an exciting opportunity for partners across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal to work collaboratively to support its communities at a time of significant housing need.”
Paul Dodd, senior associate director at the Scottish Futures Trust, commented, “It is fantastic to see both Wallyford and Burdiehouse now progressing well on site. These developments demonstrate the benefits of taking a collaborative and long-term approach to housing delivery. By bringing sites together, using shared expertise and developing repeatable house and flat designs, the partners have been able to reduce duplication and create a more efficient route from feasibility through to construction.
“The use of modern methods of construction is also helping to accelerate delivery, while ensuring that the homes being built are high-quality, sustainable and designed to create happy and healthy homes for local communities.”
