Forth Property Developments sells Edinburgh Harbour site

Forth Property Developments, the property arm of Forth Ports, has struck a deal with Port of Leith Housing Association (POLHA) to provide 102 affordable housing units at its Western Harbour development in Edinburgh. The developer has sold a 1-acre site – the first of four such sites earmarked for affordable developments – for an undisclosed sum. A planning application for a total of 434 affordable units at Western Harbour was lodged with Edinburgh city council in January. It is expected that development on the first phase will start later this year, with completion anticipated in mid-2009. The scheme includes a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom flats. Nathan Thompson, managing director of Forth Property, said: “We are committed to delivering affordable housing across all the Forthside developments. “Over the course of the development programme, there will be over 400 affordable units within Western Harbour and a further 520 at Granton Harbour.” A mile west along the Edinburgh waterfront, POLHA has purchased a half-acre site from regeneration partnership, Waterfront Edinburgh, for 20 affordable houses. Construction at the site at Granton Harbour, part of the same “Forthside” regeneration program as Western Harbour, will begin early 2008. Under the deal on both sites, the flats will be owned by POLHA and offered as rental accommodation, and will incorporate sustainable measures, such as wind turbines to generate electricity.