Granton Station View, Edinburgh

Forming part of one of the UK’s most ambitious housing-led regeneration programmes in a generation, Granton Station View is the largest development CCG has delivered to date that is designed to achieve operational net zero carbon.

Located northwest of Edinburgh’s city centre within the Granton Waterfront Development Framework Area (GWDF), a total of 3,000 net zero carbon homes are set to be created over the next 15 years as part of a £1.3bn mixed-use generation.

Granton Station View is located on Waterfront Broadway, adjacent to the former Grade B Listed Granton Railway Station building, and comprises 75, one, two and three-bedroom flats in a mix of social and mid-market rent.

Four commercial premises as a means of stimulating local employment and further complementing amenities that are within walking distance of residents including national food retailers and Forthquarter Park with the latter located under 200m from the development.

Designed by Anderson Bell Christie, it is the first ‘pilot’ scheme of the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator (EHD), an applied research initiative that will seek to develop (and implement) a model for the design procurement, delivery of new affordable, net zero homes across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal Region, with CCG’s principal client being The City of Edinburgh Council.

The homes have been constructed to the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator build standard (achieving between Gold Aspect 1 and 2), with an average annual space heating demand of 19kWh/m2/year with future capability of delivering operational net zero carbon through enhanced fabric performance, zero emissions heating and carbon offsetting measures.

CCG’s ‘iQ’ Timber System was utilised for the build, integrated with our own triple-glazed, PVCu windows and enhanced composite door sets to achieve the rigorous airtightness standards, while innovative zero-emissions technologies have been applied to address net zero.

For space heating and hot water services, the Station View is served by a bespoke-designed, combined air-source heat pump system designed and installed by CCG Group member, Arc-Tech (Scotland).

Working similarly to a conventional district heating system, 2, industrial-scale air source heat pumps and 2 water-water source heat pumps combine at one centralised location within the masterplan and connect to each block via an insulated pipe network. For individual billing, a Heat Interface Unit is installed in each dwelling which are also each directly served by solar PV systems located on the roof of each block.

Capable of connecting to future heat networks set to be installed as part of the Edinburgh Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES), Station View offers long-term added value and generates potential savings for the Council – as a result of its future-proofed build standards – as the city transitions to become net zero by 2030.

CCG worked collaboratively with The City of Edinburgh Council and our recognised academic and employability partners to identify key opportunities in Granton (EH5) and the wider city region:

• 8 new jobs including 2 new starts from EH5 postcode that were unemployed 6+ months. 3 jobs were from priority employment groups, including 1 woman (EH16);
• 3 trade apprenticeships;
• Supporting employment of 3 existing CCG apprentices, 1 of whom is an EH5 resident;
• Promotion of localised job opportunities including bricklaying, administration, and site labourer roles;
• 15 work placements including construction management students from Herriott Watt, pupils from Balerno HS, and those facilitated through Barnardo’s Works (East);
• Career-based site tours and events were undertaken with Developing Young Workforce. Promotion to priority groups included a partnership with Equate Scotland: ‘Promoting Women Into STEM’;
• £10,000 community investment included Edinburgh School Uniform drive (£1000); £9,000 donation of materials and sub-contracting of works in kind for new, accessible doors at Pilton Community Centre

Client:
The City of Edinburgh Council

Value:
£23m