126 affordable homes set for Craigmillar

Persimmon Homes is poised to build the homes on empty land in Greendykes Road behind the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

It is part of plans by the city council to build more than 800 new homes in efforts to regenerate some of the Capital’s least affluent areas, including Gracemount, Sighthill, Pennywell and Muirhouse, the Fort in Leith and Greendykes.

Edinburgh City Council’s development management sub-committee is expected to approve the Craigmillar development at a meeting on Wednesday.

The complex will be made up of ten one-bedroom flats and 116 two-bedroom flats built over up to four storeys. More than 40 car parking spaces will also be included on the site

Persimmon Homes Scottish regional chairman John  Cassie said: “We are delighted to see building commence in this much-awaited greenfield development on the south-east edge of Edinburgh.

“The mid-market and social-rented homes will be a particular boost for those working in the adjacent Royal Infirmary and Medical Research Park.

“There has been a lack of new-build family housing in this area of Edinburgh and we are confident that many young families will leap at the opportunity to live in the city’s green edge, with a new road network and an attractive river  corridor.”

The developer has previously built housing estates at Dewar Park in Midlothian, and Stewart Park and Princess Gardens in Bathgate.

Councillor Mike Bridgman, who represents Portobello/Craigmillar, said he welcomed any regeneration projects in the area.

He said: “At the end of the day, Edinburgh is in need of housing full stop. We need to build our way out of recession by creating jobs and creating housing would fit that bill. I welcome any house building, especially affordable housing, within our area.

“Obviously the Craigmillar area has been up for regeneration for quite a few years and although we’re getting it in dribs and drabs it’s still happening, which is a good thing.”

Planning chiefs have previously admitted that attempts to transform the district are running around four years behind schedule and a new vision is needed to attract private investment.

Residents of Craigmillar will be asked for their input on the stalled plans later this year as part of a major public consultation exercise.

Topics will include whether there are too many flats and not enough family homes in the current plan, and how the proposed “town centre” will now look.

Parc – the firm set up by the council and city house builder EDI to revive the area – originally set out plans for the development of 2200 new publicly-owned homes.

Only 400 were finished by the end of last year.