New Tenants Have Moved Into Newbyres Development

New tenants have moved into 75 brand-new council homes at Newbyres in Gorebridge following the completion of a major £17.5 million development delivered by Cruden on behalf of Midlothian Council with the support of Scottish Government More Homes grant funding of £4.275m.

Range of housing needs

The new properties are a mix of flats, cottage flats and houses, including 10 extra care homes (supported by services in the neighbouring Newbyres Care Home), two bariatric homes and a four-bedroom wheelchair-accessible house, helping meet a range of local housing needs.

Important milestone

The hand over of the development marks an important milestone for the area. In 2016, council homes on the site had to be demolished following the discovery of carbon dioxide linked to former mining works below the area.

Joyful conclusion

Councillor Stuart McKenzie, Midlothian Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "We're delighted that these new homes are already being enjoyed by our tenants.

"This is a joyful conclusion to what has been a difficult history at the site. Many local people will remember the loss of homes at Newbyres a decade ago. The completion of this development is the result of years of planning, investigation and hard work to make the site safe and suitable for housing once again.

Warm, comfortable and energy-efficient

"These modern, affordable homes are already providing local residents with warm, comfortable and energy-efficient places to live for many years to come."

Air Source Heat Pumps

Sustainability has been a key focus of the development. The homes are heated using Air Source Heat Pumps and feature high-performance insulation to help reduce energy use and keep heating costs down. Landscaped green spaces have also been created to provide attractive outdoor areas for residents.

Community benefits

The project has brought significant benefits to the wider Midlothian community during construction. Cruden spent more than £1.5 million with local businesses, provided the equivalent of 93 months of work for local subcontractors and created nine work experience placements for young people. The company also donated £2,000 to support local community projects and events.

Proud day

Paul Doran, Development Director at Cruden said: We’re proud to have delivered these 75 high-quality, energy-efficient homes for Midlothian Council and to see residents now making them their own. Reaching this milestone at Newbyres is a real achievement for everyone involved and reflects the hard work, collaboration and solutions focused approach that has gone into bringing new homes back to the site.

Partnership working

“Working closely with the council and our project partners, we’ve been able to create homes that meet a wide range of needs while also delivering lasting benefits for the local community through jobs, work experience opportunities and investment with local businesses.

Sustainable living

“We hope these new homes will provide a safe, comfortable and sustainable place to live for many generations.”

In the photograph

Cllr McKenzie is pictured in the centre with Cruden Development Director Paul Doran on the right and Construction Manager with Cruden, Frank Gallagher on the left.