Councillors approved the £3 million investment at this month’s meeting of the Executive.

The new block will be available to let by next summer and provide the council with 16 two-bedroom flats, Edinburgh Live reports.

In a report to the executive, Marjory Mackie, housing strategy and development manager, said: “While developing the options for use of the additional Affordable Housing Supply Programme funding, an opportunity was identified to purchase one full block of flats containing 16 new-build two-bedroom flats at Winchburgh Grange, Winchburgh, which will be complete by summer 2025.

“Whilst these units will not be completed by 31 March, 2025, which is a requirement of the additional 2024/25 funding from Scottish Government, the development is already under construction and all 16 units would be complete by summer 2025, therefore it is proposed that the available £3.3m capital budget is utilised to purchase these units. 

“The budget for the purchase of the 16 flats is estimated at £3.040m.” 

The purchase of the new block comes from identified savings in the new build and buy-back budget of £1.957m and £1.346m of surplus resources to be spent within this financial year.