The Scottish Government's Sustainable Communities Initiative has awarded new funding to PARC Craigmillar - a grant which aims to make the area 'greener and healthier'

Craigmillar has been named as one of 11 new 'low-carbon communities of the future' by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon, in an initiative backed by funding, which will be directed through PARC Craigmillar.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, Chair of PARC added: "We are committed to building strong, safe, sustainable communities in Edinburgh. PARC is creating one such community and thanks to this support, plans to make the area even more sustainable will be realised. It's an exciting time for the area and we look forward to working with the Government to build a community of the future."

The projects have been selected to further the objectives of the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative (SSCI), which encourages the creation of places which are designed and built to last, where a high quality of life can be achieved and which demonstrate how we can reduce our ecological footprint.

Ms Sturgeon said: "The Scottish Government is committed to creating an enduring legacy of high quality, distinctive new places.

"It is vital for our long term economic and social success that we create communities which provide new homes in the right place, of the right type and which contribute to reducing energy demand and impact on the environment."

Can this new initiative really benefit the area? How can we make Craigmillar 'greener and healthier'? Join the debate on s1craigmillar