Councillor Cammy Day, Housing Leader for Edinburgh City Council, has visited one of the city’s newest affordable housing developments to view its current progress.

West Gait is a £10m development by Places for People, which is set to create 93 new homes over the next year.

Construction started recently, and it is estimated that the first occupants will be able to move in Spring of 2013. The site is expected to be fully completed by the end of 2013.

Councillor Day remarked: “The Capital Coalition is committed to developing a more co-operative and collaborative approach to delivering new housing in the city. The partnership between ourselves and Places for People is another good example of that approach.


“The city needs good quality affordable housing and I'm delighted to see work starting on the latest phase of this particular regeneration site in North Edinburgh. This development will deliver 93 homes as well as providing jobs in the local area and a boost to local businesses.”

West Gait will be a mix of 93 one and two-bedroom apartments, three bedroom houses and four bedroom townhouses.

The new residences will increase the number of affordable housing in the city, as the affordable units will be a mixture of both shared equity and shared ownership.

Colin Rae, Project Developer at Places for People said: “We are really pleased to see the start of our West Gait project which will complete the final phases of a development project started in 2004.

“We are offering a range of different ways for people to move into a new home including shared ownership and shared equity schemes. In addition we are also offering mid-market rent options meaning they are very competitively priced - great if people are looking to save money for a future deposit.”

The scheme will also create new jobs, as contractors Lovell seek to acquire six school or college leavers to get involved, and positions will be created for two apprentices.

(IT)