BBC

Campaigners have called on developers to learn from their Victorian predecessors when tackling Edinburgh's lack of affordable housing. The Edinburgh Colonies properties, which were built in the 19th Century, are tightly-packed streets of one and two-bedroom homes. The model was used in seven separate areas of the city. Campaigners said that modern colonies would be a cost effective, high density answer to the city's housing needs. The Edinburgh Colonies were built by the Victorians as an alternative to the traditional Scottish tenement. The homes were designed to provide working class families with their own garden and front door.