£4 million Edinburgh project provides new homes for people with brain injuries

A £4 million Edinburgh housing development – which includes new homes for people with disabilities – was officially opened today by local councillor Andrew Burns.

The project at Coxfield Lane, off Gorgie Road, provides 42 new flats for rent. Six of the new homes have been set aside to accommodate people with brain injuries and their support workers.

Dunedin Canmore Housing Association developed the scheme in conjunction with Freespace – a charity which helps people with severe disabilities live in their own homes. They were backed by a £2.6 million grant from the government agency Communities Scotland.

Councillor Burns - whose Moat ward covers the Coxfield Lane area - said: "This development provides much-needed rented homes near the city centre for up to 100 people - as well as transforming an industrial site on Gorgie Road.

"I’m particularly impressed that a number of the new homes have been earmarked for people with disabilities and I’d like to congratulate Dunedin Canmore on their partnership with Freespace to make this happen."

Ewan Fraser, the chief executive of Dunedin Canmore, said: "Five of the ground floor flats are being allocated to people who have sustained brain injuries. A sixth flat will also be used by Freespace staff, who will be on site to support these residents."

Mr Fraser said the remaining tenants came from the city council’s housing list and the association’s own list.

"There is a mix of new tenants in the development – including young people setting up their first homes. The ground floor flats allocated to Freespace have been specially adapted to suit tenants with disabilities. For instance, we’ve added extra sound insulation and the flats are in a quieter location within the development to suit these residents."

Jane Ballantine, the director of Freespace, said: "The people moving into Coxfield Lane have come from a range of backgrounds, including institutional care, and will now be able to enjoy much more independence than previously."

She said that two of the Freespace flats were now occupied and people were due to move into the remaining flats soon. She added: "There were numerous enquiries for this development. "

Mr Fraser added that the new development at Coxfield Lane incorporated a number of environmental features - including solar water heating. The "green" scheme attracted further funding of £20,000 in grant aid from the Energy Savings Trust. "Solar panels have been incorporated into the roof to serve the top 11 flats with hot water – in turn reducing gas bills and carbon dioxide emissions," he said.


Dunedin Canmore – a not-for-profit body and a Scottish charity – manages homes across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.

The Association currently has a turnover of around £12 million a year and has assets worth around £176 million. The organisation provides homes for families, single people, couples, older people and people with disabilities. It works in partnership with a wide range of agencies including local councils and the government agency Communities Scotland. You can find out more about the Association online at http://www.dunedincanmore.org.uk/

Freespace has been supporting people with severe disabilities to live in their own homes in and around the centre of Edinburgh for more than 15 years. During this time a close and supportive partnership has been developed with Canmore (now Dunedin Canmore) Housing Association to provide fully adapted and secure tenancies for people in the Gorgie/Dalry area.


NOTES TO EDITORS:

There are 42 flats in the development. There are:
TWO one-bedroomed flats - suitable for wheelchair users
NINE one-bedroomed flats - suitable for older people/amenity users
FOURTEEN one-bedroomed flats - for general use (couples, single people, etc.)
FIVE one-bedroomed flats - for people with acquired brain injuries (ABI)
ONE two-bedroomed flats - for people with ABI
THREE two-bedroomed flats - suitable for older people/amenity users
EIGHT two-bedroomed flats – for general use (families, etc)
TOTAL 42 FLATS

The total cost of the development was £3,999,000. This came from:
Communities Scotland (Housing Association Grant) -- £2,624,000
Energy Savings Trust grant -- £20,000
Royal Bank of Scotland (loan/private finance) -- £1,355,000
Total £3,999,000

The project team for the development at Coxfield Lane was:
Contractor: J Smart (Contractors) Plc, Edinburgh (design and build contract)
Architects: Jenkins and Marr, Edinburgh
Employer’s Agent: Pottie Wilson, Edinburgh
Solicitor: Archibald Campbell & Harley, Edinburgh

Hi-res pictures of the opening ceremony are available from The PR Store. Call 01506 823714 or 07967 150560 or email us: info@theprstore.net

Issued by THEPRSTORE on behalf of Dunedin Canmore Housing Association

For more information, please contact, Adrian Mahoney, The PR Store
T: 01506 823714 M: 07967 150560 E: Adrian@theprstore.net

Ewan Fraser, Chief Executive, Dunedin Canmore Housing Association,
T: 0131 624 5600