The City of Edinburgh Council is set to buy up to 78 surplus two- and three-bedroom homes on the Dreghorn estate.

The estate is close to both Dreghorn and Redford barracks, but it is understood changing preferences mean there is no longer as much demand for military houses.

The council’s finance committee is expected to give formal approval later this month for the purchase of the first tranche of 23 homes, with garages, for £5,723,750. 

SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald, has welcomed the move.

The local MSP has previously raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament and has written to numerous UK government Defence secretaries requesting the empty MoD homes in Edinburgh be used to help homeless people across the city.

He said: “I am delighted to see the empty MoD homes in Edinburgh will now be put to good use. This very welcome news is not before time.

“It was never right that so many homes were left lying empty which is why I have long been calling for them to be used to help people whose lives would benefit from being housed in the properties.

“I hope that this news now translates into action quickly so that we can have as many people living in safe and warm homes as possible.”