Forth Homes the developers of the long running eyesore known as The Orchard have now decided to get on with the job of completing the job. There will be an enormous sigh of relief that after umpteen years, several false starts and a number of flown by night developers it will all be finished. Perhaps. Anyhow the FH publicity machine is in top gear. The community and many others are invited to a presentation of the final phase at Paxton House on Friday and to day's Berwickshire carries a wistful ad about the Launch of this luxury development of 3,4 and 5 bedroom houses. It portrays a caring young mum swinging her little lad (of Hutton Primary School age-hurrah) against the background of rolling green acres and a tiny bungalow with a red roof in the far distance-presumably representing Paxton the 'rural picturesque village' to quote from the launch invitation flyer. This also shows a map of the potential catchment area-Edinburgh to the north and Newcastle to the South. You can bet your last Euro that the bulk of the buyers for these 16 or so luxury homes will be from one or other of the two metropolises-£300,000 or so will seem like a dead give away compared to the sales tags on urban properties perused by the professional middle classes in ould reekie and geordie town.
Green rolling acres will not be much apparent inside the Orchard. 27 or so houses in a site originally destined for about half that number. You may be able to park your car and your friend's as long as not all houseowners have friends visiting at the same time. Thats about it as far as space is concerned. Cats will need to be swung cautiously and gripped half way up their tails.
I wonder if the launch will include a ceremonial sod cutting. If so someone will have to remove the thistles, the knot weed, the couch grass and other exotic vegetation before a sod can be accessed. Perhaps some Ws of MD will be unearthed. If a connection with Iraq can at last be established than that will be an electoral boost for the two Bs. But teams of arms inspectors will only again hold up this project so please no. I think most people despite the long opposition to the creeping over development of the site will only be too relieved that at last the nasty space is being filled to worry too much about the finished product. Come on Forth homes finish the job. If they walk away like their predecessors we can only hope for a speedy replacement. Fifth Homes perhaps? Could happen. Watch this site.
