Work has begun on 75 much needed new affordable homes at Greendykes in Craigmillar.

This follows yesterday’s budget meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council where councillors agreed to a £700m capital investment plan over the next five years to build new homes on sites across the city as well as modernising existing Council homes.

Greendykes is expected to be fully complete by spring 2019 adding to the over 250 affordable homes already being built as part of the wider regeneration of the area. In addition, the Council will begin construction of 194 homes, in the Spring, in a separate development in Craigmillar off Niddrie Mains Road.

Cllr Gavin Barrie, Housing and Economy Convener, said: “Yesterday’s budget approval reinforced our commitment to our ambitious house building programme to deliver 20,000 new affordable and low-cost homes over the next 10 years along with our housing association partners, making this one of the largest council-led housebuilding programmes in the UK.

“The project is an important part of the ongoing regeneration of the wider Craigmillar area and represents over £9m of investment. The new homes will be a mix of one, two and three bedroom flats, which will be available for mid-market and social rent from autumn 2018.”

Glasgow-based CCG (Scotland) Ltd is leading the build and have recently successfully completed a 94-home affordable housing project at Leith Fort, which was delivered for the Council and Port of Leith Housing Association.

The specialist construction firm has previously delivered The Schoolhouse, a 66 mixed-tenure home development and the Thistle Centre for Health and Wellbeing in Craigmillar as well as currently building a 111-home residential development for Dunedin Canmore, part of Wheatley Group, which is set for completion this spring.

Calum Murray, director of CCG, said: “Since 2014, CCG has delivered over 450 mixed tenure homes in Edinburgh and we are delighted to continue our partnership with City of Edinburgh Council at Greendykes. CCG has been on site in Craigmillar since 2015 so we understand the needs and aspirations of the local community to provide quality, affordable housing. It is certainly an area that is benefiting from a sustained approach to development.

“Through our offsite construction capabilities, we will deliver the new homes faster, to a higher quality standard and with an enhanced level of environmental performance. We also have a commitment to supporting the surrounding community through the creation of job and training opportunities as well as supporting local charities.”

Since the end of last year site preparations have been taking place and work has commenced on laying the foundations and connections to the existing utility network with the first homes set to be begin construction in March 2018.

The Scottish Government has also contributed £1m of Scottish Government grant funding.