Building a better future

'A LOT of it is that it's just got a bad name for itself. There are young hooligans, kids that don't look after things, but I've not seen any problems myself. And I have a good crowd of friends from school and they all have good jobs."

David Waddell is talking about Craigmillar, an area of the city where he's lived on and off all his 34 years, where he went to school – at Peffermill primary and Castlebrae high – and where he's now raising his daughter, two-year-old Mia. It's also an area that, fairly or unfairly, has become pretty much a byword for urban deprivation, if you like the official name, or neds and schemies, if you don't.

But that, according to the leaders of Parc, a £200 million regeneration project that is just getting under way, is all due to change.

The programme will eventually see more than 3000 new homes built, with 150 acres of surrounding open space transformed into a "green quarter" with parks, river walkways, woodland and play areas. There is a new joint campus for St Francis and Niddrie Mill primary schools, plans for a new high school to replace Castlebrae, libraries and sports pitches. Buildings will be energy-efficient, streets pedestrian-friendly and, says Parc, people will be happy.

It's a vision that David, a service advisor at the Porsche dealership at Fort Kinnaird, has bought into – literally, spending £125,000 on a flat in ParcLife, the homes part of the Parc scheme. The development is on two sites – one at Wauchope Square, the other in Greendykes – with around 20 per cent of the homes being made available for affordable rent.

And David's not the only one – demand for the homes has been fierce. A key element in a successful regeneration of Craigmillar will be drawing new people to the area. So it must have been heartening for the Parc people that when the first batch of 28 houses and flats around Wauchope Square – designed by Edinburgh-based architects Smith Scott Mullan Associates – went on sale in February, they were instantly snapped up.

Cost was probably a key factor. Even in these credit crunch-affected times, prices of between £85,000 and £147,500 for one and two-bedroom flats and three-bedroom houses are highly competitive for Edinburgh.

Jonathan Stinson and his partner Debbie Neely, 22, both from Northern Ireland, were among the home buyers who snapped up a flat back in February, and they were among the first to move in at the end of August. Jonathan, a PhD student at Napier University, admits that price was the fundamental deciding factor when he and Debbie, an architecture student, plumped for the flat.

But that wasn't all there was to it. The 23-year-old, who studies carbon building and as part of his part-time job assesses the quality of new-builds, was impressed with the quality.

And neither was put off by the area's reputation, despite not having any connection with the area and having rented in the more leafy surroundings of Marchmont previously.

"I have heard stories about Craigmillar – I'm sure I'm not the only one," explains Jonathan. "It has a bad reputation, but so did Granton and Leith before all the regeneration there. And I'm from Northern Ireland – I could well tell a few stories about there.

"But ParcLife had the cheapest accommodation. It's near Fort Kinnaird and Debbie loves shopping. And I have been around enough building sites to know if something isn't good enough quality.

"I don't want to jinx things, but I can't find any reason to complain."

All of which is very positive – but Craigmillar has been down the regeneration road before. And there are fears that however many millions are spent, it won't get rid of a small element in the community who can make life very unpleasant.

Retired National Coal Board worker David Gilroy has lived in Craigmillar since he was six – he's now 76. "It's making a difference and it's long overdue," he says.

"However, there are one or two people that are getting houses around here that don't deserve them. You can make all the changes you want, but if you put the same people back, nothing really changes. Let's face it, there's a lot of junkies here.

"Hopefully the regeneration will change this. I have to be honest though: nothing much has changed. When I was young, all the houses were new and the area was nice, much like ParcLife. The factories and coal mines were around, and it was a busy place. Now, it's not."

But that, says Ian Wall, is exactly what makes this regeneration different – and why it will succeed. The former chief executive of Parc and chairman of the Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum says: "Craigmillar has been hammered into the ground over the years."

With the loss of key industries – brewing, coal mining, brick works, the Creamery – people drifted away from the area, and "the population collapsed from around 25,000 to 7800". And with the jobs and the people went the social clubs and community groups. "Craigmillar had a very important role – the Creamery, the brewery, these were important to Edinburgh and Scotland, so that role was taken away as well."

But with the new ERI at Little France and Queen Margaret University College on the eastern edge of the area, Craigmillar, he says, again has a role. And with a new role will come self-confidence for its people.

For Sebastian Tombs, chief executive of Architecture and Design Scotland, a public body charged with promoting good design, the Craigmillar masterplan is a masterclass in broad vision and attention to detail.

The detail is as small as looking at the positioning of hedges and bends in the roads to make sure motorists automatically drive more carefully, which creates a safer environment for children, and where front doors and windows overlook to make paths safer.

It is time that will tell how successful Parc has been, says Mr Tombs – probably around ten to 15 years. "That's the kind of timeframe you need to hold on to the vision for. After all, we want this project to stand for 100 to 200 years."


'WE CAN HAVE JUST AS GOOD A LIFE HERE'
Irene Berwick, 55, volunteer at Niddry Community Church, from Craigmillar: "I grew up in the estate where ParcLife now is – the change is huge. It's much more appealing now and to see the change is really nice.

"It was all block tenements – it wasn't very visually appealing. There's more going on community-wise and I think the new-look has given people more pride in their area. "I think this is one of the best things which has happened here in a long time. The only thing they've not thought of is activities for the teenage groups. There doesn't seem to be much thought given to the youth of Craigmillar."

Darren Johnson, 19, trainee mechanic from Craigmillar: "The regeneration of the area is pretty impressive and my mates have been talking about it – everyone wants a house there. I think it's good for young families who want to start out on the right foot.

"Before, it was a pretty awful place. It looked like something out of Shameless and had this rough feel to it. It's been a long time coming and I think everyone is really proud of what's been achieved.

"Me and my fiance were planning on getting out of the area as she's pregnant but now I think we're going to stay around. We can have just as good a life here. The new school and playing areas make for a nicer feel and I think it will bring together a younger community who take pride in their home. If you can get young generations to be proud then slowly you can build a stronger area – and put an end to all the stereotypes."

Pauline O'Connor, 33, mum of three from Hay Terrace in Craigmillar: "I think it's a good thing, especially as they're generating new houses, schools and parks for people. I'm from Whitburn originally and it's great to see the change – visually it's just so appealing now. It's looking a lot better and there is a sense of pride with the area. It looks more picturesque, but I'm a mum of three children and I know there are issues with the kids playing in the area. I understand some young families have been having a bit of grief with the kids at night.

"Craigmillar does have a bit of a stigma attached to it, but I hope within time this changes. With the new houses, the new school and the new facilities, I hope people see the area in a different light. We're getting a new supermarket – we've only got Lidl. Not all want to shop there. There also needs to be more for the kids – regeneration won't do it all. After school activities will help promote the area. Until now, Craigmillar has been a forgotten area."

Aimee Collins, 23, hairdresser from Craigmillar: "It does look nice and I'm told it's going to get nicer but it'll take more than a lick of bright paint and some new bright houses to turn around the area. You need to get those who cause trouble out. The majority of the community are good, honest, decent people, yet the area is ruined by the junkies and those who just don't care. Will regeneration change this? I doubt it. I do hope, however, that visually it motivates more to take pride in their area."