Leith residents now have a brighter and lighter space to enjoy thanks to a four-month project led by Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA).

In conjunction with the City of Edinburgh Council, the Association redeveloped Boundary Square, off Buchanan Street, which had become a source of anti-social behaviour such as drinking, wall climbing and kicking balls off windows due to its dark and enclosed nature.

The Square was handed back to the community at an event where a time capsule was planted and the final stone laid.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of Port of Leith Housing Association, said:

"Boundary Square looks fantastic now and is an attractive and useable open space for the community to enjoy, rather than an enclosed area for them to be wary of.

"Projects like this make a real difference to how people enjoy the areas they live in – feeling safe and happy in your neighbourhood is of vital importance."

PoLHA consulted with residents living near the square ahead of the work beginning to see what they would like.

A number of measures were undertaken such as flattening the level of the square, putting in place lighter stone for the walls and cutting back hedges and trees.

Anne Munro, Manager of the Pilmeny Development Project which has a centre on the square, said:

"The redevelopment fantastic news for the community that Boundary Square is being redeveloped, discouraging anti-social behaviour and helping to create a community where people feel safe and can enjoy their surroundings."

Councillor Paul Edie, Community Safety Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, said:

"This project is a great example of how improvements to the local environment can have a real impact on anti-social behaviour within communities. All residents have the right to live without fear of anti-social behaviour in their area and I am pleased to see that Boundary Square is now a space which everyone can enjoy."