The Scottish Minister for Housing and Communities has visited an innovative programme to develop affordable housing from church-owned property.

Duke Street United Reformed Church is part of a development of 24 affordable homes run by Port of Leith Housing Association in Edinburgh in conjunction with Scottish Churches Housing Action.

The church site was bought from the congregation by Port of Leith and the church bought back its portion of the building once the development was competed. The homes were opened on the site in April 2007.

Leslie Morrison, the Church Minister of Duke Street said: “The development is wonderful – not only does it meet our needs, it helps some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society.

“We have some greater use of our building with more of the community using it not only on a Sunday but throughout the week.”

The Scottish Government has promised to invest £1.5 billion in affordable homes over the next three years. This year, it gave £41 million to Edinburgh city council to support affordable housing projects, including the Duke Street development.

Alex Neil MSP praised the scheme: “This is a first class example of how a local church group can improve their worshipping and community facilities, while at the time creating high quality low-cost housing.

“We look forward to continued working with Scottish Churches Housing Action to identify more opportunities in Scotland where we can work together, with the local council, to deliver more affordable housing.”

Scottish Churches Housing Action promotes similar church developments across the country. Its chief executive Alastair Cameron said: “This is the way ahead for many churches, with a three-way benefit.

“It provides the church with a building suited to 21st-century needs, it gives much-needed affordable homes and it helps the regeneration of the local community.”