Midlothian's largest Registered Social Landlord, is to build an additional 40 homes at Mayfield, Dalkeith.

The announcement follows Melville Housing Association’s successful bid to the Scottish Government's new Innovation and Investment Fund.

The total number of homes to be built at Melville's Langlaw Road development is now 133, the association's largest project to date.

The funding of over £1 million, along with the provision of desperately needed affordable housing, will also provide jobs in the local construction industry.

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Work has already commenced on the initial phases of the development, which will be a mix of two-bedroom flats, two, three and four-bedroom houses, semi-detached and terraced properties, and cottage-style flats for rent.

Chief Executive of Melville Housing, Andrew Noble, said: "This additional funding from the Scottish Government is very welcome. Not only will it provide much-needed new homes, it will also help sustain local construction jobs, providing a real boost to the local economy.

"Even before the addition of these extra homes this project was already by far the largest we'd ever undertaken, however, to put things in perspective, we have over 2,300 housing applicants on our waiting list in Midlothian alone. While we welcome the recent Scottish Government announcement on housing investment over the next three years, it is clear that significantly higher investment is required to meet the overwhelming demand for affordable housing."

The first homes will be completed in early 2012.

(JG)