-31 One- and Two-Bedroom Apartments for Social and Mid-Market Rent Set to be Delivered-
The JR Group, one of Scotland’s leading building and construction firms, welcomed Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convenor of City of Edinburgh Council to join its Projects Director, Andrew Dallas and client Graeme Gemmell, Senior Development and Delivery Manager at Home in Scotland, to officially break the ground at a new development of social and mid-market rented homes on the grounds of the former Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
The sod cutting ceremony marked the official start of works of 31 one- and two-bedroom apartments at the site which sits opposite The Meadows in the heart of the Capital.
Twenty of the apartments will be available for social rent, which are much needed in this area, as well as across the city. The remaining 11 apartments will be made available for mid-market rent.
The homes will include a range of green technologies, including exhaust heat pumps, and with each home benefitting from a direct link to solar panels.
Andrew Dallas, Projects Director for The JR Group, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Home in Scotland on such a milestone project. The former hospital site sits in a beautiful location in Edinburgh, and we are thrilled to play our part in regenerating and breathing new life into the area.
“What we are building here for our client is light and spacious, energy efficient homes fit for the future, and we look forward to progressing with the works.”
Audrey Simpson, Director for Home in Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to be able to build these homes and help regenerate a site which has lain dormant for some time.
“It’s also great to know we are delivering much needed homes for the local community at a time of a national housing crisis.
“Despite the challenges, Home in Scotland remains committed to its large development programme to help provide the affordable homes Scotland so badly needs.”
Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener at City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is a site full of memories close to many people’s hearts, including my own. Many parents like me spent long nights at the ‘Sick Kids’ when their children were little so to know that parts of the original building will be respectfully transformed is most welcome. Particularly when we will see much needed affordable homes being created – 20 for social housing which we desperately need.
“We face a drastic housing emergency in Edinburgh which demands urgent and united action. Every additional home created is crucial, particularly in central locations like The Meadows where it is difficult to secure land.
“We are also striving to become a net zero city by 2030, so I’m pleased that each of these new homes will be installed with solar panels and innovative heat pump technology. It’s good to see this work get underway.”
The homes are expected to be completed by summer 2025.
Picture caption: Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council (middle) was joined by Graeme Gemmell, Senior Development and Delivery Manager at Home in Scotland (right) and Andrew Dallas, Project Director from The JR Group (left) at the sod cutting ceremony.
