Located within Phase 2 of Taylor Wimpey’s Pentland Green development, the mix of two and three-bedroom homes, as well as one and two-bedroom apartments, are now fully occupied by Melville tenants.

Phase One of the development is also home to 49 properties. All properties are energy efficient and are fitted with solar PV panels to provide financial and environmental benefits for tenants.

Phil Cooper, land and planning director at Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, added: “We are so pleased to have completed the delivery of 56 much-needed affordable homes for Melville Housing Association within Phase 2 of our Pentland Green development in Bilston.

“We have enjoyed a successful partnership with Melville for around 14 years, where we have delivered a wide range of affordable homes across the Midlothian area, which now totals 105 including these properties here in Bilston.

“We strongly believe that a generous supply of good quality and energy efficient housing stock is a vital part of both our society and our economy, so we are very proud of the contribution these properties make to the sense of community that exists at our development at Bilston.

“As one of the largest housebuilders in the UK, we are committed to building more than just homes and we always make sure that our developments add social, economic and environmental value to the wider communities in which we operate. The completion of a further 56 affordable homes at Pentland Green in Bilston is part of that commitment being delivered locally in Midlothian.”

The last few tenants were very happy to pick up their keys.

Susan and David Crawford, who were amongst the final Melville tenants to move into their new homes at Pentland Green, said: “Being told we were getting a brand-new home in
Bilston was the best news we could have asked for. We’re delighted with our house and any issues we’ve had have been resolved quickly. We’d just like to thank everyone involved from both Melville and Taylor Wimpey. We really couldn’t be happier.”

The completion of this development also marks a key milestone for Melville Housing Association.

“When we began working with Taylor Wimpey at Bilston in 2015, we had just 26 homes in the local area,” said Melville’s development manager Neil Edgar. “Eight years later we have 110 in total in Bilston, and that’s an additional 84 families that now have a modern, secure and affordable home thanks to this partnership.”

“None of these homes would have been possible without the help of the Scottish Government and Midlothian Council and I would like to thank them for their continued support. There’s a great deal of work still to be done but we will continue to play our part in tackling Midlothian’s lengthy social housing waiting list.”