Longniddry Village is Cruden Homes’ award-winning development in coastal East Lothian, ten miles from Edinburgh and a 19-minute train ride from Waverley. Phase 2 offers two, three, four and five-bedroom homes alongside one and two-bedroom apartments, with coach houses and bungalows in the wider mix, and the development was recognised at the Scottish Home Awards in 2026.
SmartMist Fire installed water mist fire suppression at Longniddry Village Phase 2. The system was planned around the build programme, installed with a discreet finish and handed over with clear documentation for the project team.
Project overview
- Development: Longniddry Village Phase 2, Longniddry, East Lothian
- Developer: Cruden Homes
- Project type: New build residential development of houses, apartments, coach houses and bungalows
- SmartMist service: Water mist fire suppression installation
- Sector: Residential new build, East Scotland
The requirement
Phase 2 includes one and two-bedroom apartments alongside its houses, so automatic fire suppression was a regulatory requirement for the relevant buildings.
The applicable technical handbook depends on the building warrant date and project type, so each project should be checked against the version of Standard 2.15 that applied when the warrant was submitted or the work started.
The character of the homes shaped the brief as much as the regulation did. Longniddry Village is built around traditional design and a detailed specification: timber sash and case windows, generous ceiling heights, German kitchens with Siemens appliances, and designer tiling. The fire suppression work had to meet that standard:
- A discreet finish inside homes where the detailing is the selling point
- Pipe routes and nozzle positions planned around traditional ceiling details
- Scheduling that fitted the wider build programme
Clear handover information once installation was complete
Why water mist
Water mist systems suppress fire with fine water droplets that control flames and reduce heat. As the NFPA notes, they achieve this with less water and smaller pipework than standard sprinkler systems.
Those characteristics suit homes built to this specification. Smaller pipework is easier to route around detailed ceilings and traditional joinery, and small nozzles sit quietly within interiors that buyers have chosen for their finish. Lower water flow also reduces the risk of water damage if the system ever activates, which is a real concern for homeowners, developers and insurers.
The result
SmartMist Fire completed the water mist installation at Longniddry Village Phase 2. The completed installation gave the project team:
- Compliant automatic fire suppression meeting Standard 2.15
- A discreet finish in keeping with the development’s traditional design and detailing
- An installation scheduled around the build programme
- Full handover documentation and aftercare support
What developers can take from Longniddry Village
Fire suppression touches design, service routes, ceilings, approvals and handover, so treating it as a late-stage add-on creates avoidable problems. That is especially true on a development like Longniddry Village, where ceiling details and interior finish are central to the product. Planning the suppression work into the programme early gave the project team time to review the design, arrange access and confirm requirements well before handover.
Longniddry Village also extends SmartMist’s work with Cruden Homes, following the Longthorn Gardens development at Shawfair. Repeat work with a five-star housebuilder reflects an approach that fits how new build sites actually run.
If your development includes flats, maisonettes or shared residential use, ask three questions early. What does Standard 2.15 require for this building type? Is water mist suitable for the design? How will installation fit around the site programme?
Planning a development?
If you are planning a new build development, apartment block or residential fire safety upgrade in Scotland, SmartMist Fire can advise on water mist systems, installation planning and the best route for your project.
Speak to SmartMist Fire early, before fire suppression becomes a late-stage problem.