New Penicuik housing will be built in factory

Windsor Square, Penicuik, will have new flats craned into place. (Google Maps)

New affordable flats in a housing estate have been given the go ahead after councillors were told they would be built off-site and craned into place.

Ark Housing Association plans to build 12 flats on land in Windsor Square, Penicuik, using a modular system which will see blocks built in a factory.

A meeting of Midlothian Council’s planning committee today approved the proposals which received nine objections from local residents concerned about the impact on parking, road safety and the look of the new flats.

The committee heard construction time for the new builds will be shorter than tradition methods because the four in a block flats will be built away from the site.

The report into the plans said: “The ground floor of each building will comprise eight modules and the upper floor will comprise six modules. The modules are constructed off-site in a factory and are delivered to the site with internal partitions in place and the internal fit, including plumbing, electrics and decoration, completed.

“Construction of the blocks is scheduled to require 11 weeks of on-site works as opposed to 17 weeks that would be required for a typical timber kit construction process.”

The planning application was called before the committee by Councillor Debbi McCall who raised concerns about the height of the new flat blocks when compared to surrounding housing.

Planning convenor Councillor Russell Imrie told the meeting a previous application for 12 flats on the site had been approved three years ago and the only difference to the current plans was the use of modular building.

Councillor Colin Cassidy said: “I think this will be a much better fit for the neighbours than the original flats. We have more than 4,000 people looking for homes in Midlothian and we need to start unlocking sites like this.”

The committee approved the plans unanimously.