More than 1000 new properties in Capital project

PLANS for the next stage of a project to build Edinburgh's first council homes for two decades were revealed today.

Architects firm Anderson Bell & Christie has released outline designs for the new North Sighthill and Pennywell and Muirhouse stages of the 21st Century Homes programme.

The North Sighthill site will see 320 new homes built, while the Pennywell and Muirhouse project will result in the creation of 700 new homes.

Under the new scheme, half of all these homes will be affordable and the other half will be available for purchase on the private market.

Around 35 per cent of the Pennywell and Muirhouse site will be put aside for families with children. The flats and houses will be in a range of sizes up to four storeys in height. Of the affordable homes, 30 per cent will be council rent, ten per cent mid rent and ten per cent shared equity.

City housing leader Councillor Paul Edie said: "The 21st Century Homes programme is a vital element of our ongoing long-term regeneration plans, which will boost the economy by providing new jobs in both the construction industry and support for local businesses.

"However, we are still a long way from plugging the huge gap in affordable housing, which is why we are working closely with the Scottish Government to explore new ways of building more homes such as the National Housing Trust scheme, which could see up to another 600 affordable homes being built."

"We have an ambitious target to meet the need for 16,000 new affordable homes over the next ten years and we will do everything we can to achieve this."

The 21st Century Homes project aims to build up to 1300 mixed-tenure homes for sale and rent across the Capital over the next eight years, and is linked to a 150 million scheme to regenerate Gracemount, North Sighthill and Pennywell and Muirhouse. Karen Anderson, partner at Anderson Bell & Christie, added: "We are looking forward to working with the City of Edinburgh Council and the communities involved. We will draw upon our extensive knowledge gained in housing and master planning and on our wide-ranging design guidance experience."