CALA Homes (East) has beaten rival developers to acquire the former Scottish Agricultural Science Agency’s (SASA) headquarters near Edinburgh airport for a luxury housing development.
Developers including Bellway Homes, Taylor Woodrow, Miller Homes and Bett Developments also bid for the 17-acre site at East Craigs.
CALA paid an undisclosed sum believed to be about £30m – for the site, which currently houses SASA’s 350,000 sq ft headquarters.
Subject to planning, CALA will start building 300 new homes on the site early next near.
The listed Craigs House on the north-eastern edge of the site will be retained and refurbished as part of CALA’s overall design.
Tony Thomas, director of planning and development at CB Richard Ellis which advised SASA, said: “The location and size of the site meant this was one of the most sought-after pockets of real estate in the east of Scotland in recent years.”
Initial bids were received last October with detailed bids submitted in December.
A planning application for the site will be submitted to Edinburgh council in the spring.
A new bespoke scheme is being developed for SASA at Gogarbank Farm with completion due in early 2006.
CALA acted on its own behalf.
References: EGi News 20/01/05
