Edinburgh residents set to benefit from £23m makeover of ageing tower blocks
Construction firm Kier lands £23m green retrofit deal with City of Edinburgh Council
Hundreds of Edinburgh residents are in line for warmer, safer and greener homes after a £23 million contract was awarded to overhaul two ageing tower blocks.
Construction group Kier has been appointed by the City of Edinburgh Council to deliver the major residential retrofit of 114 properties at Craigmillar Court and Peffermill Court.
Built in 1968, the two 15-storey tower blocks currently have no insulation, making homes difficult and expensive to heat. Secured through the Scottish Procurement Alliance framework, the investment will fund new external insulation, energy-efficient windows and a modern facade to significantly improve heat retention and help lower tenants' bills.
Major fire safety upgrades will also be rolled out, including the installation of sprinklers in every flat, advanced smoke and fire detection systems, and a dedicated firefighting lift to ease emergency access.
Furthermore, existing lift shafts will be extended to serve every floor, boosting accessibility throughout the residential blocks.
The initial phases of construction have already begun, with site infrastructure currently in position.
Kier has pledged to engage with residents throughout the process to ensure community feedback shapes the project's social value legacy.
Councillor Tim Pogson, the council's housing, homelessness and fair work convener, said: "This project will significantly upgrade these properties, delivering warmer, healthier, and more affordable homes for residents, while also ensuring these buildings are fit for the future.
"Our investment of £23 million will help to improve insulation, ventilation, fire safety and communal spaces, amongst other benefits, as part of our broader ambition to enhance the quality, safety and sustainability of our high-rise homes."
Philip McDowell, regional director for Kier Construction North and Scotland, said the contract was a "clear demonstration of the trust placed in us to deliver high-quality residential refurbishment at scale".
The contractor previously completed a successful retrofit at Prospecthill Court in Inverclyde in 2024, which reduced average heating costs for residents to around £10 per week and is projected to save 228 tonnes of carbon dioxide over a decade.
Mr McDowell added that Kier will bring the "same expertise and collaborative approach" to the Edinburgh scheme, ensuring "lasting value for residents, the council and the wider community".