Edinburgh city council has granted planning permission for a £69m retrofit programme for Cables Wynd House and Linksview House.

Plans submitted by Collective Architecture will include substantial upgrades to ensure the two Category A listed buildings meet the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing and bring them into line with modern new-build standards.

Cables Wynd House and Linksview House were both built in Leith in the 1960s and together provide 310 homes, the majority of which are owned by the council for social rent.

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “I am delighted that the necessary planning consent for our plans to upgrade Cables Wynd House and Linksview House to provide safe, energy efficient and high-quality homes for residents there has been granted, enabling these long-awaited works to get underway, hopefully at pace.”

Carl Baker, Architect, Passivhaus Certified Designer, Collective Architecture, added: “These approvals represent a major milestone in the life of two of Edinburgh’s most iconic post-war housing developments, both Category A listed and celebrated for their bold architectural character and social significance.

“Our proposals reflect Collective Architecture’s distinctive approach to retrofit, which carefully balances ambitious improvements to energy performance with the sensitive conservation and celebration of these landmark buildings, situated at the heart of a conservation area.

“This success is the result of a truly collaborative effort across the project team, including the expertise of our in-house specialists at Collective Energy and Collective Conservation.

“We’re excited to move into the next phase of the project and look forward to transforming these historic flats into warm, safe, and resilient places to live, fit for today’s residents and generations to come.”

Alongside the Council and Collective Architecture, the project team includes a wide range of expert organisations, with AtkinsRéalis as lead consultant and Collective Energy providing energy and sustainability consultation. Expertise in mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering is being provided by Blackwood Partnership, in structural engineering by Narro Associates and in landscaping by Urban Pioneers Landscape Architects.