New homes in Meadowbank

The development consists of 206 apartments and houses, each of which has some element of outside space, hence the name.

Richard Murray, of Murray and Currie who are marketing the properties for the developer Places for People, says: “That is really their USP, that between each building will be these lovely open spaces, with low density housing to create a real family community feel.”

Having said that, he points out, the new properties will be very close to the amenities of the city with the shops of Meadowbank less than 50 metres away, the expanse of Holyrood Park just a five minute walk and the Eastern end of Princess Street, in the centre of the city, exactly a mile away.

He says: “Homeowners here will be in the heart of everything, but the design and the layout of the development will mean it will feel very far from being a concrete jungle.”

The new homes will include larger family houses and two blocks of apartments, but in the main they will be based on the traditional Edinburgh colony flats which are so popular in the city.

Originally built in the second half of the 19th Century, colony houses were designed as homes for the city’s growing population of skilled artisans, one home up, one home down with separate entrances from outside stairs.

At Urban Eden, they have been re-interpreted for the 21st century with a greater range of sizes and layouts and are expected to be particularly popular with young professionals and people starting a family.

The design of the homes and the building materials utilised have been led by architectural style of the city’s traditional houses - so the properties here have been built predominantly in brick with contrasting sandy and grey stone hues that are so much a part of Edinburgh.

This attention to detail has extended to the outside spaces with high quality materials used for the streets and pathways, stainless steel and hardwood for the street furniture and sustainably sourced, pre-treated European hard and soft woods for the garden furniture, designed to create welcoming community space.

The interiors of all the properties will also be of a very high standard, designed to make the most of interior space and ‘liveability’, with stylish kitchens, bathrooms and fittings.

30 units are to be released in this first phase, with a range of the different house types available including: one, two and three bedroom colony properties, one, two and three bedroom aparments, two and thee bedroom terraced houses, three bedroom courtyard house and three and four bedroom townhouses. All will have parking spaces to add to their gardens and outside spaces.

As Murray says “There is likely to be something to suit everyone, but I’m expecting the majority of buyers to be young families.”

The timing of further releases will be announced in the future.

A show apartment is planned for September but such is the interest currently, Murray and Currie have converted rooms at their 60 Queen Street office to showcase finishes such as kitchens and bathrooms.

The launch this weekend is from 11am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday at their offices, and viewers can also speak to mortgage advisors who will be on hand and keen buyers can even reserve a property. The price range will be confirmed on the day, but a one bedroom colony flat is likely to start in the region of £150,000.

For further details go to www. murrayandcurrie.com or www.your urbaneden.co.uk