Lovell hands over first affordable homes at Winchburgh

In total, 69 homes for social rent are being built at Central Square, with all scheduled to be completed by summer 2027.

The Lovell affordable housing range at Central Square is designed around the health and wellbeing of residents. Each home has been designed to be easier to heat with energy-saving products that help reduce energy costs and health risks linked to cold, damp homes reflecting the Scottish Housing Day 2026 theme of Healthy Homes, Healthy Futures.

The homes at Central Square are also connected to a network of safe active travel routes for walking, wheeling and cycling giving residents easy access to the new schools, shops and outdoor spaces including Auldcathie District Park and Winchburgh Marina. There are also plans to connect cycle routes into the national cycle route 754 along the Union Canal which will provide a direct 15-mile cycle route into the centre of Edinburgh.

At Winchburgh, the Lovell Affordable Design Team created bespoke ‘colony-style’ homes to meet local housing needs, combining ground floor bungalows with two-storey homes above, each with its own front door and private garden.

Courtney Miller, Wheatley Homes East tenant, said: “We’d been waiting 10 years for a new home, so moving here has changed our lives. My two boys, aged 10 and 14, had been sharing a room, and now we’ve all got our own space. Everything just feels so much calmer.

“The area is beautiful too. We’ve got our wee dog Ralphie and the grass and walkways are great for getting us out of the house. I’m registered as disabled, so having accessible walkways that are lit up at night is incredible for me. We absolutely love it here.”

Tony Rankin, Lovell regional managing director in Scotland, said: “We are proud to be handing over these first affordable homes at Central Square to Wheatley, a partner we have worked alongside for more than 20 years. These new homes have been designed with the health and wellbeing of the residents in mind. They are bright and spacious, have energy-saving products which reduce costs and are within walking distance of shops, everyday amenities, schools and outdoor space.”

James Ward, managing director of Wheatley Homes East, said: “These homes will make a real difference to families who need a safe, warm and affordable home. Housing is the foundation of good health, which is exactly what Scottish Housing Day is highlighting this year.”

John Hamilton, chief executive of Winchburgh Developments, said: “Winchburgh has been planned around the things that help people stay well, from green space and active travel routes to schools and community facilities. It is great to see the first affordable homes being handed over by Lovell at Central Square and we look forward to welcoming more tenants as more homes are completed.”

With the new homes close to the canal and marina, it was recognised that many incoming residents, particularly families with young children, may not have lived near open water.

Together, Lovell, Wheatley, Winchburgh Developments and Winchburgh Community Development Trust funded local watersports sessions and brought in Water Safety Scotland to deliver practical water safety advice for young people and their families. The sponsorship also enabled seven local instructors to gain watersports safety instructor qualifications and a number of free sessions available to Wheatley residents throughout the year.