Several years ago it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to sell a development of homes in Wester Hailes. In fact, most builders would not even have considered trying it. Now however, after an extensive regeneration campaign, Miller Homes has sold an entire development, one year ahead of schedule.
In a partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Homes, Miller developed Gillespie Gardens, a residential housing project in the Clovenstone area of Wester Hailes.
The first homes-for-sale development to be built in the area with grant aid from a national housing agency, Gillespie Gardens is part of a regeneration effort which has brought Wester Hailes improved shopping facilities, a new cinema complex and seen 18 of 24 multi-storey blocks levelled.
It contains 48 two and three bedroom houses and two bedroom flats ranging in price from #35,500 to #52,000. Designed to be child-safe and secure, the development features a children's play area and parking, and is a careful mix of traditional materials and contemporary design.
Since the whole project was intended to give local people a chance to get on the home-owner's ladder, it was sold through a priority purchase scheme. First chance to reserve homes was given to tenants of Edinburgh Council and Wester Hailes Community Housing Association, council waiting list applicants and all former tenants of Wester Hailes, as well as first-time buyers.
''One of the conditions of our grant to Miller Homes was that houses must first be offered to people in those categories,'' said Jim Hastie at Scottish Homes. ''The fact that two-thirds of those who have bought homes at Gillespie Gardens are from these priority groups shows Scottish Homes is targeting its grants successfully. In the specific context of Wester Hailes this project is of significance.
''After eight years of multi-agency regeneration activity we now see existing residents choosing to stay in the area as home owners. It is this type of housing renewal project which will be essential in breaking the cycle of decline in similar Edinburgh city areas like Muirhouse, Greendykes and Niddrie Mains.
Miller Homes is delighted to have seen the entire development sell out so quickly. It was opened officially by Malcolm Chisholm, former Scottish Housing Minister in June last year, and was not expected to reach sales targets until next summer. Even though sales were encouraging when the development first opened, none of us thought we'd be sold out so early,'' said Fraser Conn, sales and marketing manager for the East of Scotland.
''But the homes have proved popular. We spent a lot of time getting the development right, with the emphasis on community living. We wanted to build homes which met the needs of local individuals and families, reflected local character and created secure, attractive environments.''
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