Projects

AFFORDABLE HOUSING – FA’SIDE, TRANENT, EAST LOTHAIN COUNCIL  

Commissioned by East Lothian Council, the Fa’side Lodge project redevelops a prominent brownfield site within Tranent town centre to deliver 28 affordable homes, including flats and bungalows designed to meet a range of mainstream and specialist housing needs. The development responds directly to the Council’s Climate Emergency ambitions, combining inclusive design with a robust low-carbon strategy.

Located approximately 80 metres north of the High Street, the 0.6-hectare site sits within the Tranent Conservation Area and is bounded by Church Street, Elder Court, and surrounding residential backlands. Formerly occupied by a care home and earlier industrial uses, the site required careful remediation and a sensitive architectural response to its historic context.

The layout establishes a strong urban edge along Church Street, reflecting the proportions, massing, and rhythms of the traditional burgess plots that characterise the historic townscape. Buildings are arranged around a central landscaped courtyard, referencing the former Fa’side Lodge, and creating a sheltered communal space that supports social interaction and passive surveillance. A clear hierarchy of public and private spaces, combined with defined pedestrian routes, ensures permeability while maintaining security and privacy.

The development includes a mix of one- and two-bedroom flats, wheelchair-accessible homes, and specialist supported accommodation. Several dwellings are designed specifically for wheelchair users, with level access, proximity parking, and tailored internal layouts. Dual-aspect homes and carefully positioned windows maximise daylight, outlook, and connection to the surrounding neighbourhood.

A comprehensive sustainability strategy underpins the design. Homes are orientated to maximise passive solar gain, with south-facing living spaces and integrated sunspaces where appropriate. Air Source Heat Pumps and roof-mounted photovoltaic arrays reduce reliance on fossil fuels, while high-performance building fabric, including SIPs panels and triple-glazed timber windows, ensures excellent thermal efficiency and reduced fuel costs for residents.

Materials have been carefully selected to complement the conservation area, combining harled finishes, natural slate roofs, timber windows and doors, zinc detailing, and reconstituted stone elements. Boundary treatments of masonry walls, railings, and hedging reinforce the urban character and define spaces clearly.

Landscaping plays a central role in placemaking. Although existing vegetation was removed as part of site remediation, new long-life trees and structured planting reintroduce greenery and create a high-quality communal environment at the heart of the scheme.

Fa’side Lodge demonstrates how complex, constrained urban sites can be transformed into inclusive, sustainable housing that strengthens town centre living while responding sensitively to heritage, accessibility, and environmental responsibility.