A total of 1,020 new council homes have now been delivered in Midlothian since the council embarked on its new build housing programme in 2006. The total number of new homes and subsidised housing options provided by the council, Registered Social Landlords and the Scottish Government now stands at 2,488 since 2006.

Midlothian is one of only three councils to have increased their stock over the last 10 years.

According to the council, it is certain that bad housing contributed to poor health and poverty historically and the provision of council housing has improved the health and life expectancy in communities across Scotland.

As with all the new council houses in Midlothian, the 1,000th home, which is at Robert Franks Avenue in Gorebridge, has been designed to look appealing and also practical for modern day living with fitted wardrobes, high levels of insulation and generous garden sizes.

Councillor Stephen Curran said: “Midlothian Council is delighted to see the council move past the 1000th house milestone. Midlothian Council lead the way back in 2006 by announcing a £100 million investment in new council houses the first major investment in new council houses for over 25 years. Midlothian’s investment in housing has been one of the biggest by a Scottish local authority in a generation. Providing new accommodation like this helps to address the high level of housing need in our community.”

However with over 4,500 families still on the housing list, there is much more to be done. Midlothian Council is committed to further investment in up to 1000 more new council homes in towns and villages across Midlothian as it continues with its second phase of new housing development.