‘Net-zero’ housing plans approved by Edinburgh planners

A PROPOSED housing development – being described as Scotland’s largest ‘net-zero’ housing project – has been approved by Edinburgh planners.

The development is aiming to build 444 homes on the city’s waterfront.

Says an announcement from The City of Edinburgh Council, here, the Western Villages project is being led by the council in partnership with Glasgow-based contractor CCG (Scotland) and architect, Cooper Cromar.

The announcement continues: “The development will form part of the Granton Waterfront Regeneration, where over 3,500 homes are set to be created over the next ten years, delivering one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including wheelchair-accessible ground-floor dwellings, available in a mix of social (195), mid-market rent (62), market rent (63) and private sale tenures (124).

“Designed within a masterplan that will take advantage of stunning parkland and sea views, there will also be greater emphasis placed on pedestrian and cycle movement with electrical car charging, car club accessibility and public transport in favour of traditional car parking which is reduced across the development.

“The homes designed to the principles of CCG’s newly-launched ‘Net Zero Home’ housebuilding standard. Developed in collaboration with energy and sustainability consultancy, Carbon Futures, the Net Zero Home focuses on enhanced fabric performance, low carbon heating and renewable technology as part of a gas-free energy strategy to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (arising from regulated operational energy use) to a rate less than or equal to zero per year.

“With an ambitious target to become a ‘net zero’ city by 2030, this first phase of Granton Waterfront will act as a blueprint for future sustainable development and help Scotland to transition towards a greener economy.”