Eighty-two new affordable homes come to Leith
Harbour Homes and Harbour Lettings have welcomed the first tenants to brand new social and mid-market rent homes at Ramage Square in Leith.
Harbour Homes is providing 41 social rent properties: 10 one-bedroom, 29 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom flats. There are a further 41 Harbour Lettings mid market rent homes made up of 10 one-bedroom, 29 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom flats.
Heather Kiteley, Group chief executive of Harbour, said: “I’m really proud that we have successfully created more excellent, affordable homes in Leith. Tenants will have the best of both worlds, living close to the city centre and while also enjoying the vibrant life of Leith and The Shore.”
Councillor Jane Meagher, Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work convener, added: “Edinburgh’s council housing stock was devastated by the Right to Buy policy, meaning only 14% of homes in our city today are social housing compared to a Scottish average of 23%.
“We desperately need to work on reversing this trend and we are committed, alongside our social landlord partners, to building as many affordable homes as we can. It’s fantastic, then, to bring forward 82 good quality genuinely affordable new homes which are now ready to move into at Waterfront Plaza. Crucially, half of these will be for social rent.
“This is a great location close to Ocean Terminal which will soon benefit from the tram extension to Newhaven. The homes will be ready in time for the new line going live later in the spring and the buildings have been constructed with carbon reduction in mind. My thanks to Harbour and our council officers who have been involved in delivering the types of homes our city, our climate and our residents need and will enjoy.”
The main contractor was Cruden Building Scotland and the architect and principal designer was Covell Matthews. The structural engineer was appointed by Cruden Building Scotland. The employer’s agent was Brown and Wallace, and the Clerk of Works was Harbour Homes.
The project was delivered in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, who contributed close to £5 million towards the development through the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme in Edinburgh (total cost was just under £8m). The homes support the Scottish Government’s goal to deliver 100,000 new affordable homes over the next decade.