Residents of new-build homes told to leave while mineworks risks addressed

Residents of several new-build properties in Edinburgh have been told they will have to leave their homes for a number of weeks after previously unidentified mining works were discovered.

Sixteen households from Edgelaw View in Gilmerton have been told they will have to move temporarily while remedial works are carried out and some buyers of new homes will have their move-in dates delayed.

The residents of the seven houses and nine flats in a block managed by Places for People Scotland all moved into their homes in recent months.

The developer Miller Homes said there was no immediate risk to homes while the "precautionary" works were carried out.

The affected residents will have to move into temporary accommodation for up to eight weeks from late August.

A spokesperson for Places for People Scotland said they understood their customers "may be concerned" by ground works and the temporary move from their homes.

"The developer of the homes, Miller Homes, recently informed us that a previously unidentified mining feature beneath specific locations within the development have been identified and require preventative ground works to be carried out," a statement from the social enterprise company said.

"We'd like to reassure customers that these works are precautionary and designed to protect homes against any future issues – there is no current or immediate risk."

It added: "We appreciate that this will be unsettling for customers and their families and we are working to make this process as easy as possible and with no extra costs.

"We will be supporting with the logistics and costs of moving, suitable alternative accommodation, and any wider impacts on daily life."

The "unrecorded mining feature" was discovered while work for newer buildings on the estate was carried out.

Geotechnical experts recommended further drilling and pressure grouting to stabilise the ground.

A spokesman for Miller Homes said a small number of unoccupied homes and some occupied properties managed by Places for People Scotland were affected.

"These works are precautionary and designed to protect homes against any future issues," he said.

"While there is no immediate risk to homes, the safety and wellbeing of residents is our top priority."

He added: "A few Miller Homes customers will experience a slight delay in moving into their new homes and we have communicated with the impacted customers regarding their revised entry dates."

More than 250 residents of a a street in Coalsnaughton, Clackmannanshire, were recently told to leave their homes because of dangers from old shallow mine works.

Earlier this month, Clackmannanshire Council issued dangerous building notices for a further six properties after ground movement was observed.

The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) told the council that ground movement in the village was showing "no signs of stopping".

In June, the Scottish government confirmed a £1m package to help it meet the cost of the emergency.