Work begins at affordable element of Bank of Scotland-backed Edinburgh housing development West Craigs

Work on the affordable housing element of the forthcoming West Craigs project – billed as Edinburgh’s largest housing development site – has got under way.

West Craigs Ltd, which is behind the project and is owned by Bank of Scotland, says it now has 425 affordable homes under construction, with potential for 415 more, after the completion of major infrastructure works at the site on the western outskirts of the Scottish capital, just off Maybury Road. It explains that it has, supported by infrastructure contractors I & H Brown Ltd, Scottish Water, SP Energy Networks and gas firm SGN, fully serviced all major housing plots, and constructed two five-acre new public parks, both of which will open shortly.

Additionally, West Craigs Ltd says it has transferred ownership of three separate plots to enable Scottish housing, care, and property-management group Wheatley to build the first tranche of 425 affordable homes. Part-funded by the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council, the first phase is due to complete in mid-2024.

The 100-acre site currently has 1,700 homes in construction with six major housebuilders, following outline planning consent being granted in 2019 and masterplan consent in 2020. West Craigs Ltd added that it has completed major land sales with Miller Homes, Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes, Cala Homes, and, most recently, Cruden Homes, which has 122 new homes currently being built. West Craigs Ltd and Wheatley say they are now advancing plans for up to another 415 further affordable homes across the north and south of the development.

West Craigs Ltd, which is owned by Bank of Scotland, says it now has 425 affordable homes under construction, with potential for 415 more. Picture: contributed.

Mark Daly, director at West Craigs (an affiliated company of Bank of Scotland), said: “Seeing the progress of West Craigs has been tremendous. We’re working hard to create a new community, one fully meeting the ’20-minute neighbourhood’ criteria and that has all the amenities needed to thrive. We’re also working closely with Wheatley Group to ensure we can provide housing suited to everyone, in line with the National Planning Framework 4. By working with Wheatley, we can do our part to support this target and progress with our plans to provide more affordable homes in the future.”

Frank McCafferty, director of repairs and assets at Wheatley Group, said: “We are committed to increasing the supply of affordable homes across Scotland, and West Craigs is one of our most important developments.”