PLACES for People, a housing association dedicated to creating communities in Scotland, has reportedly acquired land in west Edinburgh in order to build over a thousand homes.
The organisation is also planning on creating usable greenspace as well as a primary school and improved links to cycle paths.
The land is situated to the west of the city centre, between the A8, the Edinburgh City Bypass, and the Glasgow-Edinburgh railway.
This is part of the Edinburgh Garden District, plans for which were first proposed almost ten years ago by Murray Estates – controlled by former Rangers owner Sir David Murray.
Places for People has purchased the 110-acre site from Murray Estates and aims to provide more homes to meet the demand of the housing crisis in the Scottish capital.
Their plans are in line with the Edinburgh City Plan 2030, which outlines the city’s development in accordance with sustainability goals.
They are hoping to provide a mix of housing types from 1-bed apartments to 5-bed family homes, a substantial number of which will be affordable.
The community will also contain a local commercial centre, education provisions, greenspace, and connectivity to the city centre.
Colin Jack, regional managing director of Places for People Scotland, said: “The City of Edinburgh and the Scottish Government have declared a housing emergency.
“This is a sign that for too long Scotland has failed to address our chronic shortage of homes being built.
“We are ready to help address this, and it is why we’re thrilled to play a part in developing the west of Edinburgh.
“This site will see over 1,300 new homes being brought forward in much needed mixed-tenure communities.
“Using our team’s extensive housebuilding background, we can create communities that last for generations to come.”
He continued: “With the scale of our organisation, we know how important access to affordable housing is and our unique model supports us in delivering places that allow people to flourish.
“We don’t just build homes; we create communities that allow people to connect.
“Through our partnerships with local charities and businesses we strive to bring a place to life and ensure the community has access to services and resources that they need.
“We will now work closely with Edinburgh City Council to bring our aspirations to fruition.”
This comes alongside news that the number of people in temporary accommodation in Scotland is at its highest since 2002.
The national housing emergency was announced in May last year, with 20,823 households applying for homelessness assistance from April to September 2024.
David Murray, managing director of Murray Estates’ owner Murray Capital, said: “As a family business that has owned this site for 40 years, we’re pleased to see our vision for Redheughs taken forward by an organisation committed to creating sustainable, high-quality communities.
“It’s nearly 10 years since we first applied for outline planning approval, so this transaction also unlocks capital that we can invest in new projects that support our ambitions as a patient, entrepreneurial business.
“This is the first phase of the broader Edinburgh Garden District, which is a key part of the western expansion of the city.
“We look forward to seeing west Edinburgh come to life and contribute thousands of new homes the capital so desperately needs.
“We retain other strategic land holdings in the area – including 500 acres of the Garden District – and will look to develop options for these over the coming years.”
