In partnership with PARC Craigmillar Ltd, part of the EDI Group, the construction firm has successfully transformed the site of the former Niddrie Mill Primary School into a residential development of private for sale and affordable housing.

Of the 66 homes created at the development, 28 are mid-market rent flats for Places for People, six are flats for social rent for Castle Rock Edinvar, while 32 private for sale properties were also constructed including a block of 17 apartments behind the restored Schoolhouse façade.

Calum Murray, director, CCG (Scotland) Ltd, said: “The Schoolhouse was a challenging project in many respects, none more so than the difficulties presented by the age and condition of the school building. Embracing the challenge, we worked tirelessly to develop a solution that preserved as much of this iconic building as possible by retaining the school façade; refurbishing the cupola and weather vane, and preserving the 1899 Wauchope War Memorial.

“By integrating this with modern construction methods, we have maximised the energy performance of the building and created modern, spacious apartments. The end result is truly stunning.”

The housing mix on the site comprise the apartments in the new ‘Schoolhouse’ building, two new blocks of two and three bedroom terraced housing and two new build four-storey blocks of two bed apartments, all constructed using CCG’s enhanced closed panel timber frame system complete with insulation, windows and doors pre-installed. An example of the on-site benefits was the construction of the show home complex, a block of three terraced homes, delivered to full completion in just 7 weeks.

Calum Murray added: “The success of this development is down to the use of the CCG OSM timber frame system. Traffic congestion is a big problem in Craigmillar and as the development sits right on the edge of Niddrie Mains Road, the speed of construction and reduced vehicular movements associated with performing most of the works ‘Off-Site’ contributed greatly to the delivery of the housing, a key factor when considering our requirement for the show home complex. The ability to enter the market quicker ultimately led to the selling out of the homes well ahead of target.”

Working with local partners Barnardo’s Edinburgh and Action for Children, CCG also employed three apprentice joiners on the project and worked with Edinburgh-based charities to offer work placements to five young people who gained experience as general labourers.

The Schoolhouse is one of several contracts that have been completed by CCG in Edinburgh including the new Thistle Foundation Centre for Health and Wellbeing, also located in the Craigmillar area, as well as a 237-bed student apartment scheme in the city centre.