Plans for a new 49-home affordable housing development at Burdiehouse Crescent have been approved, paving the way for the latest phase of the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator (EHD) programme.

This project marks the second EHD development to be delivered by contractor CCG for The City of Edinburgh Council.

The site, located east of Burdiehouse Crescent on a partly brownfield area adjacent to an established residential community, will feature a mix of flats, colonies, and terraced houses. Crucially, four of the flats will be fully wheelchair accessible, promoting inclusivity within the new community.

Designed by architect Smith Scott Mullan as part of the innovative EHD programme, the development is poised to set a benchmark for sustainable urban living. The homes will be fully operational as 'net zero ready', utilising advanced, low-carbon technologies such as air source heat pumps, exhaust air pumps, and photovoltaic panels for heating and hot water, thereby eliminating the reliance on fossil fuel-based heating systems.

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Lezley Marion Cameron, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, underscored the significance of the approval: "This approval is a vital step in tackling the housing emergency facing our city. Too many people are struggling to find a safe, secure and affordable place to call home, and developments like this are a key part of the solution." She added that the new homes will not only provide much-needed accommodation but will do so in a way that is "sustainable, inclusive, and community-focused."

David Wylie, Managing Director of CCG, highlighted the broader impact of the EHD programme, which is supported by Scottish Futures Trust. "The Edinburgh Home Demonstrator programme... is a hugely important initiative which is helping to shape the future of affordable, 'net zero ready' housebuilding in the Edinburgh and South East City Region," he stated. He noted that the Burdiehouse development is the third project to be brought forward since the programme's launch in 2021 and will be analysed to inform how 'net zero ready' homes can be delivered at scale to meet housing demand and support Scotland's net-zero transition by 2045.