Established 2005 Registered Charity No. 1110656

Scottish Charity Register No. SC043760

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Bang on target

November 12 2009
Demolition will lead to better housing Edinburgh council's new housing initiative sees the spectacular demolition of the Gracemount tower blocks pave the way for 220 affordable homes. In Edinburgh, a new era in social housing began with a bang when three tower blocks were demolished in Gracemount on Sunday 25th October. Local schoolboy Robert Miller, 11, won the competition to push the button, with his site safety poster for the event. Council Leader, Cllr Jenny Dawe, and former resident Margaret Jeffrey joined him in lighting the fuse. The demolition is part of the council's 21st Century Homes regeneration project. The three multi-storey blocks, built in 1962, will be replaced by 220 affordable new homes, with communal gardens and a children's play park. Speaking before the explosions, Edinburgh's Housing Leader, Councillor Paul Edie, said: "For the first time in a generation the Council plans to build new council homes and this marks a major shift in strategy that will boost the future of social housing in Edinburgh for the 21st Century. "This demolition will kickstart a programme of council-led investment worth up to £150 million aiming to build 1,300 homes across the Capital." It took less than five seconds for Garvald, Soutra and Fala Courts - once homes to 246 households - to be razed to the ground. The site is expected to be cleared by January, with construction starting in the spring/summer of 2010. The 220 new homes will contribute towards the Council's aim to build 12,000 affordable homes over the next 10 years. Cllr Dawe commented: "Many people have fond memories of the flats at Gracemount, but now we can look to the future as we drive to create new homes for the 21st Century." * See the demolition on youtube.com/edinburghcouncil
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