Keepmoat wins £35m Sighthill regeneration contract

North Sighthill Keepmoat 3A derelict piece of land in North Sighthill is to be completely transformed after the City of Edinburgh Council finalised contracts with Keepmoat for a £35 million regeneration scheme that will also provide investment in the wider community.

Work is due to start on site in February 2017 and will comprise 96 new family homes for social rent, 88 homes for mid-market rent and 132 sustainable family homes for sale.

The major mixed tenure development will be built in compliance with the latest Scottish Building Regulations, Housing for Varying Needs and Secure by Design.

The Scottish Government’s Help to Buy Scheme will be applicable to first time buyers and existing homeowners, providing help of up to 15 per cent of the purchase price of an affordable new build home.

Housing and community regeneration specialist, Keepmoat, will construct all 316 new energy efficient homes and will offer substantial employment and training opportunities for local people via a Community Engagement Plan, centred on Employability & Training, Education & Outreach, Enterprise & Business, Funding & Development and Community Cohesion.

North Sighthill Keepmoat 2There will also be access to certified training for new entrants and those facing traditional and historical barriers to employment, where Keepmoat will deliver a minimum of one modern apprentice, six craft apprentices and employability programmes for 24 candidates throughout the duration of the contract.

Eamonn McGarvey, regional managing director for the Regeneration division at Keepmoat in Scotland, said: “Now that North Sighthill has been cleared of low demand high rise flats, our proposals shall create a development that Edinburgh can be proud of; benefitting from a cohesive, high quality public realm and seamless tenure that generates a sense of community and civic pride that helps to create jobs and improve the area’s social and economic prosperity and attractiveness.

“This highly important new project is an exemplar of urban regeneration built to high environmental standards. It’s a prime opportunity to showcase exactly how Keepmoat as a business is perfectly placed to deliver major mixed use developments that offer a variety of homes for market sale, as well as private or social rent.

“We also face a well-documented skills crisis in the construction industry and this project offers an ideal opportunity to upskill a new generation in varying construction disciplines. We shall engage enthusiastically and positively with local schools and colleges to encourage young people to consider careers in the construction industry.

“We are once again delighted to be working with the City of Edinburgh Council and supporting their vision of sustainable housing and neighbourhoods fit for the 21st century.

North Sighthill Keepmoat 1Housing leader for City of Edinburgh Council, Cllr Joan Griffiths, said: “North Sighthill is one of the largest new house-building projects in Edinburgh, after the regeneration of Pennywell in the north which is well underway. This development is a key part the council’s commitment, working with housing associations, to deliver 16,000 affordable and low cost homes and nearly £2 billion investment over the next ten years.”

Work on the new development at North Sighthill is expected to progress over three years.

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