01 May 2001
An award-winning sustainable housing project was opened today in Edinburgh by Jackie Baillie MSP, Minister for Social Justice.
The £3.7 million development by Link Housing Association includes 64 new homes for rent and shared ownership, just half a mile from the site of the new Scottish Parliament building. It was backed by funding of £1.6 million from the national housing agency, Scottish Homes.
The new homes have all been designed to cause the least possible damage to the environment, both in their construction and throughout their 100-year lifespan. They have already been recognised with an Enviro-Build Award in the Scottish Housing and Environmental Innovation Awards.
Scottish Homes Board member John Spencely said: "Scottish Homes takes sustainable development very seriously. One quarter of the country's homes currently suffer from damp or condensation, and only one in ten meets minimum energy-efficiency standards. As a result, half a million people in Scotland spend over 10 per cent of their disposable income on fuel costs.
"We believe that energy-efficient housing developments such as this one can make an important contribution to tackling fuel poverty and promoting social justice. Just as importantly, by cutting down on fuel consumption they help to reduce damaging carbon dioxide emissions and protect the environment."
Link's Chairman Douglas Sievewright says: "We first looked at this site 12 years ago so I am delighted that through the efforts of Link Housing and Link Homes, and with the support of Scottish Homes and the City of Edinburgh Council, it is now complete. It is Link's first "sustainable" development and one which we will replicate elsewhere. I am pleased that it aims to ensure that residents" long-term running costs are significantly reduced as a result of the various energy-saving features."
The project includes a mix of one and two bedroom flats for single people and families, and includes twelve homes for people with community care needs. The association's subsidiary, Link Homes, has built a further 31 new homes for outright sale to the same high environmental standards. They have all now been sold.
Throughout construction, care was taken to minimise waste and reduce the fuel consumption associated with transporting materials to and from the site.
When the buildings which formerly occupied the site were demolished, the waste material was used as in-fill, rather than being taken off-site. Instead of importing timber from Scandinavia, the association used wood from managed Scottish forests.
To conserve precious natural resources, recycled materials were used wherever possible. The external wall blocks are 85 per cent recycled, using pulverised fuel ash from local power stations. Even the roof-tiles are 30 per cent recycled waste slate, mixed with cement.
The properties have been designed to reduce energy consumption and help residents save on fuel costs. The insulation, which is made from recycled, shredded newspapers, is 60 per cent thicker than normal. Windows are double glazed and filled with insulating Argon gas, and the electrical appliances fitted in the kitchen are all as energy-efficient as possible. Low flush toilets and spray head taps will also help to save water.
The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is funding a study by Edinburgh-based construction engineers Wren and Bell, to monitor the project before and after construction. The final phase of this study is expected to begin in the summer.
The project is also supported by City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust and Lothian Health.
Private finance was provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Page last updated on Wednesday, 23 July 2008
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