Funding secured for 370 new homes next to Edinburgh BioQuarter

The site, which forms part of the Edmonstone Estate three miles south of the Scottish capital’s city centre and is close to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in Little France, has been acquired by the responsible property investor Hunter REIM.

Planning permission is in place for the creation of a total of 725 mixed-tenure residential units. 370 of the units will be single-family build-to-rent homes, and 129 (35%) of these will be affordable housing.

Funding for Hunter REIM’s acquisition of the site came from a private debt fund in an intricately structured transaction brokered by the London-based SHC Capital.

Tony Tadros, director at SHC Capital, said: “It was a pleasure to work with Hunter REIM, who demonstrated exceptional sophistication in navigating this complex transaction. We look forward to partnering further with them on their strategic expansion and the delivery of hundreds of much-needed, sustainable homes in Edinburgh.”

With Edinburgh growing nearly three times faster than the rest of Scotland, the creation of 725 new homes next to the £1 billion BioQuarter life sciences hub will help meet the surging demand for housing in the city.

Hunter REIM’s design will deliver highly energy-efficient homes, and the completed scheme will have its own heat network, with an on-site energy centre delivering cost-effective, low-carbon heating and hot water to every home.

Andrew Moffat, managing director of Hunter REIM, added: “When Hunter REIM was formed in 1999, sustainability was a niche issue. Things have changed, and so have we. Today our focus isn’t on growth alone; it’s about growth plus transparency, social responsibility and environmental impact - and that’s what this exciting scheme will deliver.

“SHC Capital’s expertise in understanding the complexities of our site acquisition was invaluable. They helped us execute the transaction swiftly with the support of a private debt fund, enabling us to take a major step forward in our growth and strategic objectives.”