Posted on 9 Nov 2009

PARC marked the start of construction work on a major new affordable homes project in the area recently.

The development, which will see 26 new homes at Wauchope Square, signalled the next stage PARC's £200 million Craigmillar regeneration.

Cllr Tom Buchanan, Chair of PARC, told the Chronicle he was delighted to be able to launch the next phase of redevelopment, he explained: "This continues to show the council's commitment to regeneration in the area. I'm hugely grateful to the combination of the Services for Communities team along with Castle Rock Edinvar and the council to get this regeneration going forward.

"This clearly demonstrates to the people of Craigmillar that this administration is absolutely behind regeneration in this area and wants to change the nature of the way the rest of the city imagines and thinks of Craigmillar. This would be a fantastic place to come, have a family home, start off your family here and live in a new and inspiring community.

"The new homes at Wauchope Square will be a mixture of one and two bedroom apartments and three bedroom houses - for affordable rent and shared equity home ownerships. The development is due to be completed by the end of October 2010.

Watching work get underway, Councillor Mike Bridgman told the Chronicle: "It is fantastic for the area that there is still a real commitment from this administration, and everybody involved, to keep the regeneration process going, despite the recession.

"This new development will provide 26 affordable homes in the area and is another milestone on our way to regenerating, building and strengthening a community that those who already live here, and those who will come to live here in the future, can be proud of.

"The £2.7 million development will be created by housing association, Castle Rock Edinvar, and its subsidiary company, Lothian Homes. The PARC masterplan for regeneration will eventually see 400 new homes built in the area.

Alister Steele, Managing Director of Castle Rock Edinvar, said: "I'm pleased the next stage is getting underway and I think it's important to keep the regeneration process going at this time. I think it demonstrates Castlerock Edinvar's commitment to the area and it also shows how an organisation like ourselves, the council and PARC can work together to make sure that investment continues.

"We've managed to provide new houses as well as sustaining employment in the area too. So, for me, this is just part of the whole process of regeneration and regenerating this part of Craigmillar.

"Mr Steele also said that despite the current economic climate and tightening of public expenditure, plans for the new development had taken account of this, he said: "This phase has been reshaped and developed from what was originally planned and fine-tuned to suit the times that we are now operating in."

From:  The Chronicle

Date:  9 November 2009

Contact: http://craigmillar@chronicle.org.uk
0131 661 0791