First Residents Move into New Western Harbour Development
supermarket, in Western Harbour, Newhaven is due to be fully occupied by June 2010. The development includes environmentally sustainable and energy efficient features such as a ground source heating system and under-floor heating for the ground-floor homes. Eight units are specially designed to accommodate disabled residents and there are a number of three and four bedroom homes specifically designed for families. This is the first of four proposed
Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) has welcomed the first group of residents into its new affordable
housing development at Edinburgh’s waterfront. The block of 102 homes at Newhaven Place at Western Harbour, by the Asda
affordable housing sites at Western Harbour. Work on a second site is currently underway by PoLHA. Keith Anderson, Chief Executive at PoLHA, said, “This is a significant development for PoLHA as it marks a move for us from building in the existing Leith to also building homes on the waterfront at Western Harbour. By the summer, over 100 households will be living here in environmentally
sustainable, yet affordable homes. Our first development at Western Harbour forms part of our vision for this new community and is an important part of the overall regeneration master-plan for the area. It is the living embodiment of our commitment to developing vibrant and sustainable communities in homes people want to live.” This is the second development opened recently by the Association, it recently welcomed 14 households to a new-build block of flats on Buchanan Street, Leith, which was previously a gap site for a number of years. Over the next five years, with its development partners, PoLHA aims to provide a further 500 homes to help meet the urgent and growing demand for affordable housing in Edinburgh.
Weymouth Bridges the Gap! Artist Wants Local People to Help Design New Traffic-Free Bridge
Residents in Weymouth and
Portland are being asked to get creative and come up with their design ideas for a new bridge in the Westham area. The bridge will form a key part of a new route for pedestrians and cyclists from Weymouth to Portland funded by sustainability charity, Sustrans and Dorset County Council. The route will use the local railway path and connect through the town centre to the esplanade thus providing a valuable link for everyday travel within the area. Brighton-based artist Bruce Williams will be holding an open studio for the Newstead Road bridge design at Beechcroft St Pauls Primary School in Westham during the first week in February.
The open studio will be open 1pm – 2.30pm and 3.15pm – 6pm from Monday 1st February to Friday 5th February. Since September 2009, Bruce has been working with a student group of 17 pupils from All Saints CE
School and 15 pupils from Holy Trinity CE VC Primary School to develop conceptual ideas for the bridge. Pupils have been exploring basic engineering principals and looking at innovative bridge design from around the world to come up with their own creative responses. Weymouth College art students are also working on their own designs for the bridge which Bruce has been reviewing with them. Sustrans is funding this route as
part of their UK-wide ‘Connect2’ schemes to create networks for everyday journeys for people travelling by foot or by bike. These schemes – including the one through Weymouth – are being created using a £50 million Big Lottery Fund grant after the UK public voted the scheme the winner of The People’s Millions Lottery contest in December 2007. Kevin Humphreys, Sustrans Area Manager for Dorset, said, “We are thrilled that the bridge
design plans will have so much input from the local community. Bruce is really looking for what will work for Weymouth. This scheme will make it easier for people in this area to get around without having to rely on their car which is not only better for their health but the environment too." Artist, Bruce Williams said, “I am amazed by how positive, thoughtful and hardworking these young people have been. Almost without exception, everyone I am working with loves Weymouth. Their research has kept me busy with every new layer of history they reveal and their ideas for the bridge are bursting with optimism for the future. Now I want to meet some other people from the town. To hear stories about life in Weymouth, about the old bridge and the Rodwell trail, to see ideas, old photos and memories, to talk about the Olympics, about the wider future for Weymouth or
simply to chat about how the new bridge will effect the town.” Cabinet member for Transport Col Geoffrey Brierley said, “The Newstead Road bridge will be a prominent structure in the heart of a lively community. Bruce’s work with local students and residents will mean that the bridge will be more than just a stretch of metal, and that it will have significance to the people who will see it and use it everyday.” Work produced by All Saints, Holy Trinity and Beechcroft pupils and designs by Weymouth College students will be on display during the open studio. Bruce’s work is being funded by Arts Council England South West, Weymouth and Portland Partnership, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and Dorset County Council.
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