A new affordable housing development has opened in Leith, Edinburgh.

Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) welcomed the first of 100 homes to a block of new, high-quality properties in Fox Street and Edinburgh Council said the completed development would make a "significant impact" on the regeneration of the area.

The £13m project comprises 60 social rent and 40 shared ownership homes – where people buy and own a percentage of the property and rent the remainder from the Association – with a range of housing types available on the site, from one-bedroom through to four-bedroom main door duplex apartments.

Features include secure underground parking and a central landscaped courtyard, while solar thermal panels located on the roof will provide hot water for a number of properties with condensing gas boilers supplying heating and hot water.

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This is the first of a number of affordable housing sites to be completed in Leith and North Edinburgh this year by the Association, and work is currently underway on four other sites; and in conjunction with its subsidiary company, Persevere Developments, a further 189 new affordable homes (101 for social rent and 89 for mid rent) will be completed this year.

Councillor Cammy Day, Housing Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council said: "These new modern affordable homes in the heart of Leith represent a significant investment by the Council and Port of Leith Housing Association . It is also a reflection of the shared commitment between the Council and housing associations to tackle the city's shortage of affordable homes in the city.

"These new homes will also mean modern family homes and lower energy bills. This is our commitment to helping struggling families deal with the range of financial pressures they face."

PoLHA worked closely with the City of Edinburgh Council, which allocated £7m of grant monies for the development. An additional £6.2m was funded through private finance raised by the Association and from shared ownership sales receipts.

(JP/CD)