News

Affordable housing development opens in Edinburgh

Staff, July 3rd 2010

A new affordable housing development marking a major milestone in the regeneration of Edinburgh's waterfront this month.

Goosander Place, the first affordable homes to be built in the Western Harbour, Newhaven, was officially opened at a ceremony involving Scottish Housing Minister Alex Neil.

Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) welcomed 102 households to the block of new, high-quality and energy-efficient homes. It is the first of four proposed affordable housing sites at Western Harbour, and PoLHA have worked closely with the City of Edinburgh Council, who allocated £11.3m of grants for the development.

The Council and PoLHA also worked together to ensure that some of former residents of Fort House in Leith, scheduled for demolition, were able to access the three-bedroom properties.

Cllr Paul Edie of the City of Edinburgh Council said: "The opening of these fantastic energy efficient homes shows what can be achieved when organisations work together to achieve a common goal."

Helen Phillips, a longstanding and active resident of Leith, who has recently moved to the new development, was presented with a bouquet welcoming her at the ceremony held at the David Lloyd Centre today.

She said: "The flats are lovely, very spacious. The environmentally-friendly features will also be a real help with utilities bills. There is already a real sense of community and I am confident that will continue to grow."

Goosander Place has also been short-listed for the Large Affordable Housing Development of the Year title at the Scottish Home Awards.

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