The City of Edinburgh Council has completed a £30.5 million deal to purchase a major residential development in Leith, aimed at addressing the city's critical Housing Emergency. Originally developed by CCG Homes for the private market, Plot P1 at Western Harbour will now provide a variety of affordable housing tenures.

The site was initially acquired by the CCG Group from Forth Ports with planning permission for 118 private dwellings. However, following a marketing exercise and subsequent Committee approval in 2024, the Council intervened to purchase the completed homes. The move is designed to bolster efforts to reduce homelessness and mitigate the acute shortage of affordable living space in the capital.

The development features a selection of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, all of which have been converted to a mix of social and mid-market rent. The transition is already yielding results, with the first tenants having moved into the energy-efficient properties in December 2025.

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Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Tim Pogson said: "I'm delighted that we've been able to secure these new homes at Western Harbour. The pressures on Edinburgh's housing and homelessness services remain intense, and our purchase of new-build homes forms part of a broader range of measures to address the city's acute housing shortage. I hope residents are settling well into their new neighbourhood."

The completion of Plot P1 represents a significant step forward for the wider 938-home Western Harbour regeneration masterplan. CCG utilised its integrated in-house expertise—spanning construction, timber systems, and mechanical services—to streamline the delivery of the high-quality units.

CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said: "CCG is proud to have delivered the latest phase of residential development within the Western Harbour Masterplan. Across the city, we are currently live on 307 homes with the City of Edinburgh Council, and P1 builds on this momentum by showcasing the strength of our integrated in-house expertise across construction, timber systems, windows and doors, utilities, and mechanical & electrical services."

Wylie continued: "This end-to-end capability has helped streamline delivery while maintaining the highest standards of quality and customer service – a vital contribution as the city continues to address growing housing demand during the ongoing Housing Emergency. We thank the City of Edinburgh Council, Forth Ports and Rettie/ Savills for their continued support throughout the construction of Plot P1, and we hope the new residents have settled in well over the winter period."

Sandy Gilmour, Associate Director for Land Development and Investment at Rettie, noted that the project reflects a long-term commitment to the area, with 352 homes delivered at Western Harbour to date. He added that the partners hope to progress the next major phase of development shortly, following the anticipated Royal Assent of The Housing (Scotland) Bill.