WATCH: First glimpse inside new homes for rent as demand soars
Last updated 27th May 2026
A ribbon-cutting ceremony has taken place in Jedburgh today (Wednesday) to celebrate the completion of a new 70-home social housing development.
Scottish Borders Housing Association revealed it received more than 1,000 bids for the properties on the town’s former Howdenburn Primary School site.
Two-thirds are already occupied, with the remaining keys to be handed over to tenants next month.
Outgoing chief executive Julia Mulloy told Greatest Hits Radio: "The lovely quote that we had from one tenant is that it's life-changing.
"We know from the thousands of people who are registered with us, and other housing associations across the Borders, the demand is enormous.
"Our commitment is to keep doing more - to build more homes.
"The nice thing is that when we do build, sometimes the people who move in are freeing up other social housing, so it actually creates more homes."
WATCH: Click on the link below to view our video report...
Constructed by Cruden Homes, the development pays tribute to one of the last surviving remnants of the ancient Jed Forest, the Capon tree - with streets named Capon Gardens, Capon Court, and Capon Drive.
Addressing guests, Ms Mulloy said: "When we got involved in this site it was just a big field and now it's 70 really lovely homes.
"In a housing emergency, this is part of the response, and we face unprecedented times in terms of demand.
"These homes are built for the future - they're warm, they're energy efficient, they have low running costs; and I think in a cost of living crisis they become even more important.
"We don't know where energy prices are going at the moment, it's a very uncertain world. So it's just great to know that people will have the security of homes that are well built and well designed."
READ MORE: Has the 'Kingdom of Kubala' returned to Jedburgh?
Last week a sod-cutting ceremony was held to mark the start of works on a new 27-home development at Linglie Road in Selkirk.
The development is to be known as Rutherford Way in honour of Sir Walter Scott’s maternal grandfather.
It comes after a report published last year revealed 93 per cent of employers in the region say a lack of access to suitable housing is impacting on their ability to recruit and retain staff.
The South of Scotland Community Housing document recommends that public landowners do more to identify and release sites for development, and that an action plan is developed to make it happen.
Julia added: “Watching new homes begin to take shape is always special, because each one represents a fresh start for individuals and families.
“Projects like this also show the importance of strong partnership working, with organisations coming together to deliver homes and opportunities that will benefit the community for years to come. We would like to thank Scottish Borders Council, as well as the Scottish Government for funding support.”
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