Council will meet 5 year target of 1,000 new council homes
Midlothian Council is on track to meet its five year target of having 1,000 council homes either built or under construction by the end of March 2022.
Under construction
The council has signed contracts with Dandara and Barratt, who are already on site delivering 18 council homes in Shawfair and 53 council homes in Roslin respectively.
Most ambitious in Scotland
Work is also underway at various sites across the council, many of the homes meeting exacting ‘Passivhaus’ standards, meaning they offer exceptionally high levels of energy efficiency and low utility bills for residents. Indeed Midlothian’s Passivhaus house building project is recognised as the most ambitious in Scotland.
Funding details
Council officers successfully attract grant funding from the Scottish Government to deliver this programme of council house construction. Additional funding for this new build programme is provided by the Housing Revenue Capital Account, funded by council house rents.
Covid-19 challenges
This progress has been achieved despite the considerable challenges presented by COVID-19.
Energy efficient
The council remains committed to providing cost effective, energy-efficient, affordable council homes. A total of 85.5% of Midlothian Council housing is energy-efficient, as measured by the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing.
More plans in place
The council is working hard to improve that figure by, for example, installing new double-glazing, loft insulation and other measures in identified homes. It also has plans in place to meet a new raft of Scottish Government energy efficiency standards for our homes, which will include, for example, solar panels and wall insulation by the 2032 deadline.
Significant investment
Midlothian Council Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Stephen Curran said: "I am delighted to see Midlothian Council is on its way to have 1,000 council homes either built or under construction by the end of March 2022, meeting our five year target.
"Our investment in housing has been one of the biggest by a Scottish local authority in a generation. Providing new accommodation like this helps to address the high level of housing need in our community.”