The 21st Century Homes property project has made the final six out of 250 entries for a national housing award.

The scheme is the first new council homes in Edinburgh for more than a generation and could see the City of Edinburgh Council win the category for ‘Excellence in Housing Finance and Development Category’ of the 2011 UK Housing Awards.

The project will see up to 1,300 mixed tenure homes built for sale and for rent across the capital and will include up to £150 million of Council-led investment in the regeneration of the Gracemount, North Sighthill and Pennywell & Muirhouse areas of the city.

This is the second accolade for the programme - the Gracemount phase which is expected to be completed early next year won the Community Partnership of the Year award Scottish Homes Award 2011 this summer.

Councillor Paul Edie, Housing Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It’s great news that our exciting 21st Century Homes programme has been recognised yet again by the housing industry as being among the best in the United Kingdom.

“This nomination is testament to the hard work by our Housing and Regeneration Teams to come up with forward-thinking plans that will see the first new Council homes for a generation built in Edinburgh.

“This project is a vital element of our ongoing long term regeneration plans for the Capital which will support the economy by providing new jobs in both the construction industry and other sectors.

“It demonstrates our commitment to tackling the affordable housing shortage in Edinburgh.”