Building work has commenced on 111 new affordable homes at Edinburgh's Waterfront.

Port of Leith Housing Association's (PoLHA) £11.7m development at Ocean Drive East, Western Harbour, Newhaven is to be a mix of social rent and mid-market rent properties.

Construction work is being carried out by Hart's Builders (Edinburgh) Ltd with a projected completion date of late summer 2013.

Hart Builders' Business Development Director, Robert Kerr, said: "We are delighted to be working with Port of Leith Housing Association at S2 Western Harbour. S2 will provide 111 well designed modern homes and it is very encouraging to see associations like Port of Leith working collaboratively with the Scottish Government and the City of Edinburgh Council with the aim of securing innovative investment funding to tackle the desperate need to supply more affordable homes in Edinburgh.

"This development will not only provide a secure and sustainable environment but will also enable Hart to maintain current employment and training opportunities over the lifetime of the construction period."

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Chief Executive of PoLHA, Keith Anderson, said there was an "immediate pressing and ever-increasing" need for affordable housing in Edinburgh.

Mr Anderson also commented on the need to continue developing and regenerating the Waterfront community.

He said: "This is a major development for the Association and for the Waterfront as a whole. Through an effective partnership process, we now have a very exciting development to offer the people of Edinburgh.

"As well as traditional social housing, there is a growing group of people who fall into the camp who require 'mid-market' rents, those who cannot afford full private market rents but may not be eligible for social housing. This is our first development of mid-market rent properties. It is important we create mixed communities and are happy we are offering an almost 50-50 split at this development. A mix of affordable housing types is very important."

The development will consist of 58 properties let as social rent, with the remaining 53 homes available for mid-market rent.

The flats will range from one to four bedrooms, making the development suitable for families, single people and professional couples.

Housing Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, Cllr Paul Edie, said: "This development will provide affordable homes and will be a major boost to the regeneration of the Waterfront area. More and more households find it difficult to get on the housing ladder which is why the Council and its partners are currently building over 1,000 new affordable homes all over the city."

The development will incorporate environmentally efficient features such as solar water heating panels, assisted ventilation systems to reduce energy use and improve air quality and high levels of insulation will also be used throughout.

(JG)