£80m West Craigs development welcomes new tenants!

Tenants are beginning to settle into their new homes at one of the most extensive affordable new-build developments in Scotland. The first mid-market rental properties in Edinburgh have been allocated to tenants by Lowther, a part of Wheatley Group, at the West Craigs development in Edinburgh. This project is part of a larger £80m new-build initiative by Wheatley Group, aiming to construct a total of 425 homes.

Cruden Group is responsible for delivering 300 new homes for Wheatley Group, which includes 168 homes for social rent and 132 for mid-market rent. Additionally, CCG Construction is building 125 homes, with 70 designated for social rent and 55 for mid-market rental. The social rent homes will be managed by Wheatley Homes East, while Lowther will oversee the mid-market rental properties.

James Ward, the managing director of Lowther, expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s great to see tenants settling into West Craigs. These modern, energy-efficient properties will play a vital role in creating a wonderful new community for our tenants and their families.”

The newly constructed homes consist of a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom houses, as well as one, two, and three-bedroom flats. Moreover, 19 of these homes are designed to be wheelchair accessible, ensuring inclusivity within the community.

The project has received funding from the Scottish Government through the City of Edinburgh Council. One of the tenants, Marek Pieta, a photographer, along with his artist wife Aneta, and their son Jakub, recently moved into their new home. Marek, originally from Poland, shared his experience, “We were living in a rented flat in the city centre, but had to vacate on short notice. It was a stressful situation. However, after applying for a new home with Lowther, we are now settled in a lovely end-terrace house with a garden, and couldn’t be happier.”

Steven Simpson, managing director of the Cruden Group, expressed his pride in collaborating with Wheatley Group on this project, “Completing the initial homes is a significant milestone in this project. The innovative, energy-efficient, and accessible features incorporated in these homes will benefit a diverse range of tenants. We are thrilled to contribute to the development of this vibrant and sustainable community in the capital, while also creating job opportunities across the project lifecycle.”