Elfin Square welcomes Kevin Stewart MSP

MCR Property Group played host to the Scottish Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Kevin Stewart MSP, on Monday 15 April at its mixed-use Edinburgh development, Elfin Square.

Mr Stewart was shown around the affordable housing scheme by MCR Property Group chief executive officer, Aneel Mussarat, and asset manager, Nick Lake, as part of a wider progress report on a government-backed project to tackle the shortage of mid-market rental homes across Scotland.

The former office block, known as Chesser House, two miles west of the city centre, is a mixed use residential and commercial development offering 40 prime apartments, as well as ground-floor retail and office space.

The second block – known as Embankment West – has been transformed by MCR Property Group into 123 one, two and three-bedroom homes for private sale, available to purchase using Help to Buy.

All 40 units were recently purchased by LAR Housing Trust to meet its target of providing high quality, affordable homes for rent in key locations across Scotland. LAR Housing Trust will retain the name of this part of the development, as Chesser House.

Mr Stewart was in the area visiting LAR Housing Trust’s Westwood House development, another high value commercial-to-residential conversion, situated next to Elfin Square.

Nick Lake, asset manager at MCR Property Group, said: “It was a pleasure to greet Kevin Stewart MSP and showcase how our partnership with LAR Housing Trust is helping to bring vital, new rental accommodation to Edinburgh.

“We had a lively discussion on how the government and private sector can better collaborate to address the housing shortage the country faces and, with a number of high profile developments nationwide, welcomed the minister’s proactive stance on the matter.”

Elfin Square is expected to welcome its first tenants in June 2019.