Longthorn Gardens is a newbuild development at Shawfair, Midlothian, delivered in partnership by Cruden Homes and Mactaggart & Mickel. The development brings 116 homes and apartments to the area, with a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses alongside two-bedroom apartments.
SmartMist Fire installed water mist fire suppression at Longthorn Gardens. 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: Longthorn Gardens, Harelaw, Shawfair, Midlothian, EH22 1SB
- Developer: Cruden Homes and Mactaggart & Mickel (joint partnership)
- Project type: New build residential development of 116 homes and apartments
- SmartMist service: Water mist fire suppression installation
- Sector: Residential new build, East Scotland
The requirement
Longthorn Gardens includes two-bedroom apartments alongside family 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.
A development of this scale brings its own practical demands. With 116 homes, two developer partners and homes ranging from apartments to five-bedroom houses, the fire suppression work had to fit cleanly into a busy programme:
- Scheduling around other trades across a large, phased site
- A discreet finish for homes sold on the open market
- Consistent installation quality across different house types
- Clear handover information once installation was complete
Cruden Homes is a five-star housebuilder, and the site team at Longthorn Gardens received an NHBC Pride in the Job Award in 2026. On a site held to that standard, the finish and tidiness of every trade matters, fire suppression included.
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 newbuild housing. Smaller pipework is easier to route within ceiling voids and service runs, and small nozzles sit neatly within the finished home. 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 Longthorn Gardens. The completed installation gave the project team:
- Compliant automatic fire suppression meeting Standard 2.15
- A discreet finish across apartments and family houses
- An installation scheduled around a large, phased build programme
- Full handover documentation and aftercare support
What developers can take from Longthorn Gardens
On a development of 116 homes with two developer partners, coordination is everything. Fire suppression touches design, service routes, ceilings, approvals and handover, so treating it as a late-stage add-on creates avoidable problems. Longthorn Gardens worked because the suppression work was planned into the programme with time to review the design, arrange access and confirm requirements well before handover.
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.