The Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) has acquired three development sites in Leith, at a cost of £2.5m, with a view to investing a further £20m to create 165 new homes on them.

The three sites are: Fox Street, where the Association plans to develop 100 homes; Constitution Street for 50 homes; and it has also agreed to buy the former church at Boswall Parkway in Granton with a view to building 15 homes and a new church.

The sites will offer homes of a mixture of sizes, from one bedroom flats to four bedroom homes.

The Boswall Parkway project is due to be on site April 2010, completing in 2011. Work on Fox Street is due to start in autumn 2011 and be completed by summer 2012. Constitution Street is set to begin in summer 2012, with the project earmarked for completion by mid 2014.

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Keith Anderson, Chief Executive at PoLHA, said: "We are delighted to have acquired these key sites which have fantastic development potential and will significantly increase the amount of affordable housing in Leith and Granton.

"The need for social and affordable housing is at its highest level in recent times and so we must be innovative in how we work to meet that demand. Transforming derelict sites must be an integral part of how we create neighbourhoods that people want to live in if we are to deliver our vision of renewing communities in Leith and Granton.

"Investing in new projects will ensure we can continue to do this for the communities in the area for years to come."

PoLHA recently welcomed the first group of residents to its development in Newhaven Road at Western Harbour. By June, it will be home to over 100 families. It has already begun work on a second project at the Western Harbour area.

(GK/BMcC)