Net zero housing development in Edinburgh granted approval

Proposals for a net zero housing development were granted approval, as part of the £1.3bn Granton Waterfront regeneration project in north west Edinburgh.

The project is the first Edinburgh Home Demonstrator (EHD) pilot, which will see the construction of 75 net zero carbon homes and three retail units.

The EHD project aims to deliver 1,000 affordable net zero carbon homes across the six council areas in the City Region Deal.

The scheme is being undertaken in partnership with CCG (Scotland) Ltd to test the Council’s new business model for building affordable, net zero homes.

A large proportion of the construction will be carried out off site in a factory setting reducing the overall time it takes to build the homes.

The homes will also include zero emissions heating, helping to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and support the city’s 2030 net zero target.

Cllr Kate Campbell, Convener for the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee, said: ‘Making homes more sustainable will help us to meet our net zero targets, but the most important thing is that our tenants will benefit. With the cost of living rising sharply, making the running costs of homes more affordable will help tenants on low incomes, preventing fuel poverty.

‘This pilot, and the learning we hope to take from it, is a really important step for us on our journey to making all of our housing stock more energy efficient, and better for tenants to live in.

‘We have incredibly ambitious plans which form the bedrock of our housing strategy over the next ten years. There is a critical need for more affordable homes in Edinburgh and we are responding to that through our commitment to deliver 20,000 social and affordable homes by 2027.’

The pilot is also supported by a team from Napier University that will analyse the energy performance to validate and inform the net zero carbon strategy for future EHD projects.

Calum Murray, CCG (Scotland) Director and Edinburgh Climate Commissioner, commented: ‘The approval of Granton D1 is another important milestone for the City of Edinburgh Council and CCG. By working collaboratively alongside our partners, we are pioneering the delivery of affordable, net zero homes in Scotland and the Council is to be congratulated for taking these necessary first steps in delivery of our country’s net zero carbon ambitions.

‘CCG is delighted to be leading the design and build of Granton D1 where we will provide a cutting-edge demonstration in the use of fabric first design and construction technology. We look forward to advancing works on-site in the very near future.’

Construction of the new homes is expected to begin in Spring 2022.

In related news, the first steps to deliver Liverpool’s first operational net zero carbon building have been taken. 

Photo by Bayo Adegunloye