Work starts on new homes after street had to be demolished

Tenants were affected by carbon dioxide and were moved from the site in Gorebridge around a decade ago.

Now the street is set for a new chapter as Cruden starts work on a £17.5 million contract with Midlothian Council to deliver a mix of 75 flats, cottage flats, and houses.

The development will include ten extra care units, two bariatric units and one four-bedroom, six-person wheelchair-accessible house.

Cruden said sustainability is “a core focus of the project, ensuring that tenants will have access to high-quality, future-proofed homes, fit for the net-zero demands of the future”.

The primary heat source within the development will be Air Source Heat Pumps, and the homes will feature “advanced insulation techniques”.

High-performance insulation “will ensure that the homes are energy-efficient, maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures year-round while reducing energy consumption and utility costs for tenants”.

The firm, who did not build the original homes, said: “Plentiful outdoor greenspace is at the forefront of the development's design, promoting community well-being and encouraging outdoor activities. The development will incorporate landscaped areas, communal gardens, and play areas, providing residents with ample space to enjoy nature and outdoor recreation.”

Stuart McKenzie, Midlothian Council housing convener, said: “This is a landmark day as we start work, building sustainable, energy-efficient homes at Newbyres that will benefit local people for decades to come.  We’re very pleased to be working with Cruden on this exciting development, which will also bring community benefits, such as job opportunities for local people during the construction phase.” 

Fraser Lynes, managing director of Cruden, said: “It's been great to get our boots on the ground in Gorebridge today to herald the commencement of this innovative new development. Scotland is facing a well-documented housing emergency, and Newbyres will make an important contribution to alleviating the need for high quality affordable housing in Midlothian. We have been working closely with our partners at Midlothian Council to ensure the design of this development is tailored to meet the diverse needs of the Gorebridge community and the end result will be an impressive development with accessibility, sustainability and community at its core.”

Should I save or invest? How to choose wisely, and well

This article appears as part of the Money HQ newsletter.

When we talk about saving and investing, we generally think of them as the two main ways to set money aside for the future. It can be easy to confuse them as one and the same thing – or think that you should opt for one or the other.

In fact, they’re two quite distinct options that you have for aiming to grow your money for your future. The first step to understanding the difference is to ask yourself a series of questions.

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Skin Deep: Inside the Beauty Industry – find all articles in the series here

Scotland's rapidly growing cosmetic industry is part beauty – and part beast.

A surge in innovation and availability of clinics means consumers have more treatments to choose from than ever before, and the opportunity to benefit from world-class expertise to enhance their looks and rejuvenate their skin.

While the only option for previous generations was to go under the knife with expensive plastic surgery, advances in lasers, energy devices, and injectables such as Botox mean that roughly 90% of the procedures being carried out today are non-surgical, minimally invasive, and much more affordable.

On the flipside, an explosion in unregulated practitioners is being blamed for a surge in people suffering horrific injuries and disfigurements – sometimes with little prospect of compensation.

The Herald launches its latest in-depth series investigating the state of Scotland's cosmetic sector, how we got here, and what's next.