New Council Houses for Gracemount approved by Councillors

4.42.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 24th May 2010

An artists impression of the first phase of new Council Houses at Gracemount

Members of Council's Development Management Sub-Committee have given approval for the final planning application for the first construction phase of the 21st Century Homes project in South Edinburgh. Permission was given for the first 99 homes to be built all of which will be affordable with 67 council homes for rent, 20 for mid rent and 12 for low cost home ownership.

Councillor Paul Edie, Liberal Democrat Housing Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, was delighted at the planning approval.

He said: "This is an exciting time for residents of this city as we will now start to see the first new council homes for more than a generation taking shape in Edinburgh.

"The 21st Century Homes project is a vital element of our ongoing long term regeneration plans for the Capital which will support the economy by providing new jobs in both the construction industry and other sectors.

"These new homes demonstrate our commitment to tackling the affordable housing shortage in Edinburgh. Last year 676 new housing association homes were approved for building - the highest since 2005/06 - with 788 homes actually completed.

"However we are aware we are still a long way from plugging the huge gap out there which is why we are working closely with the Scottish Government to explore new and innovative ways of building more."

The mix is made up of 26 one bedroom, 40 two bedroom and 27 three bedroom flats and colony style apartments. There will also be 6 four bedroom houses.

Phase two, comprising housing for market sale will consist of up to 121 homes including a number of shared equity properties to ensure that the development consists of at least 50% affordable housing.

The project is the Council's exciting new programme to build 1,300 mixed tenure homes for sale and for rent across the Capital. This will see up to £150 million of Council-led investment in the regeneration of the Gracemount, North Sighthill and Pennywell & Muirhouse areas of the city.

The new homes will contribute towards Edinburgh meeting the need for 15,800 new affordable homes over the next ten years.

Betty Stevenson, Convenor of Edinburgh Tenants Federation, said: "I think this a wonderful time for the city of Edinburgh to start to build houses again after a space of 30 years.

"I hope this is just the start of things to come because they are much needed for our growing communities and I am looking forward to being around to see it happen."

The three multi storey flat blocks on the Gracemount site were demolished in October last year. Since then contractors have been clearing the site making it ready for construction work which is expected to start in the summer. A developer for the start of the Gracemount construction is due to be finalised in the summer when work building the first homes is expected to start.