To mark the opening, delegates from City of Edinburgh Council visited the Canonmills Garden development to view the new homes and meet the teams involved in their construction.

The project was delivered in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, who contributed £3.2m towards the development through managing the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme in Edinburgh. The homes support the Scottish Government’s goal to deliver 100,000 new affordable homes over the next decade.

Developed by Artisan Real Estate for Hillcrest Homes, the affordable housing forms part of a larger regeneration of the site of the former Warriston Road B&Q superstore.

The affordable homes consist of 40 apartments for social rent, while a further five apartments have been specially developed for veterans in partnership with Veterans Housing Scotland.

The turf was cut for the project in March 2018, with the first homes being ready for their new tenants earlier this year.

Hillcrest chief executive Angela Linton said: “This project marks the successful completion of an exciting development within the city, not only bolstering affordable housing provision but more importantly providing homes that people can take pride in.

“Located in a quiet area next to the Water of Leith, and surrounded by other tenure types such as private ownership and private rent, these affordable homes also make a significant statement against the traditional concepts of socially rented housing.”

Councillor Jane Meagher, housing, homelessness and fair work convener, added: “It’s fantastic to see more social rented homes being completed in the city, thanks to extensive partnership working. We are particularly pleased to have supported the delivery of homes for veterans in the Canonmills development as well.

“There is a critical need for more affordable homes like these in Edinburgh and we are committed, alongside our social landlord partners, to building as many homes as we can.”

David Westwater, Artisan’s Scottish regional director for Artisan Real Estate, said: “Our award-winning Canonmills Garden development is Artisan’s first major residential scheme to be delivered in in Scotland and has set a high quality benchmark which showcases our ongoing commitment to the Scottish residential market.

“Our partnership with Hillcrest has provided 40 affordable homes which form an integral part of the wider development, reflecting the highest of industry-leading sustainability and quality standards. The development is now bringing a new residential dimension to the lively Canonmills area of Edinburgh, combining the tranquillity of a quiet riverside location with the bustling vibrancy of a well-established local community.”