Wheatley Group has just completed its 7,000th affordable new-build home in Scotland on the site at West Craigs in the capital. The group which includes four social landlords is building 238 homes for social rent and 187 for mid-market rent in the £80 million development.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan was invited to meet the tenant, Kiera Mccaffrey who is moving into the new house. He said: “I am delighted to have been invited to help Wheatley Group celebrate the completion of its 7000th affordable new-build home.
“I was previously here in August 2023 when work was underway so it is great to be back to be shown around Kiera’s new home and see some of the other 425 affordable homes supported by £41.6m of Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme funding.”
Steven Henderson, Chief Executive of Wheatley Group, said: “Our commitment to making homes and lives better remains unwavering. We are proud of the positive impact we have made in our communities so far and ensuring that even more people have access to safe, affordable housing in prime locations.
“Our collaboration with Scottish Government and local authorities has been instrumental in reaching this milestone. The support and funding provided have enabled us to deliver a mix of high-quality social and mid-market homes that meet the needs of our communities. We look forward to continuing this partnership and building even more homes in the future.”
Kiera, a 19-year-old civil engineering student, was keen to move into the estate for the extra space in the property, and for the good transport links to her university and her part-time job in the city centre.
Her home includes low-carbon features such as solar panels, high levels of insulation and energy-efficient boilers, as well as electric car charging points. These features will help tenants with their bills and cut the carbon footprint.
Kiera said: “My new home is great. I’ve still got a few boxes to unpack, but I’m really pleased with the property. The location is so handy. It’s really close to the tram stop, so perfect for getting into the city centre.”
The group engages builders Cruden to build the homes. Fraser Lynes, Managing Director of Cruden, said: “Cruden is very proud to continue our strong relationship with Wheatley Group as we deliver these desperately needed, sustainable new homes. With Edinburgh in the midst of a housing emergency, this large-scale project is a crucial addition to the city, delivering homes packed with innovative, energy-saving and accessible features to meet the diverse needs of tenants for decades to come.
“The West Craigs masterplan has been thoughtfully designed with green open space, parklands, and a host of important new public amenities, creating a vibrant new community for people to live, play and thrive.”
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