Demolition begins at Sighthill flats

Contractors have begun demolishing three blocks of flats in the North Sighthill area to make way for new affordable homes.

The demolition of the flats at Sighthill Wynd and Sighthill Green mark the latest phase of a regeneration plan which will see 320 new homes for sale, half of which will be affordable, or rent being built.

Edinburgh is suffering from an acute shortage of affordable homes and the city needs to build 16,000 more over the next ten years.

The work will take four months to complete, with the contractors starting by stripping the buildings before the demolition of the blocks gets under way.

Councillor Cammy Day, the city’s housing leader, said: “There is a constant strain on housing in Edinburgh and we will ensure we continue to look at new and innovative ways of securing investment for more affordable homes.”