The 444-home Western Villages development is being led by Edinburgh City Council in partnership with Glasgow-based contractor CCG (Scotland) and architect Cooper Cromar.

It forms part of the £1.3bn Granton Waterfront Regeneration where more than 3,500 homes will be built in a coastal park over the next decade.

With an ambitious target to become a ‘net zero’ city by 2030, this first phase of Granton Waterfront will be a blueprint for future sustainable development and help Scotland to transition towards a greener economy.

Homes will be built with improved insulation, low carbon heating and renewable technology.

The mix of social rent, market rent and private sale homes are designed to the principles of CCG’s newly-launched ‘Net Zero Home’ house building standard.

Developed in collaboration with energy and sustainability consultancy, Carbon Futures, the Net Zero Home standard focuses on enhanced fabric performance, low carbon heating and renewable technology as part of a gas-free energy strategy to cut greenhouse gases to zero per year.

CCG managing director David Wylie said: “House building is going to play a major part in achieving our ambitious target of becoming a ‘net zero’ economy by 2045.

“With gas being removed from new build homes as early as 2024, it places greater emphasis on collaborative working as the partners on this project have demonstrated; utilising the CCG Net Zero Home building standard to create an affordable, scalable and practical solution that can ultimately be delivered now for any residential development.

“We commend the City of Edinburgh Council for their bold commitment and share their aspirations for a more sustainable future for Scotland.”