Transformation of shopping centre environment takes another step forward
Barton Willmore’s Edinburgh team has secured Planning Permission in Principle on behalf of Robertson Regeneration for the regeneration of the Pennywell and Muirhouse Shopping Centre in North Edinburgh.
The proposals are being delivered by Robertson Partnership Homes for City of Edinburgh Council’s 21stCentury Homes. The Chair of the Development Management Committee considered them to be “… of the best possible quality … transformative to the area … and a huge addition to what has already been put in place”.
Barton Willmore has utilised their integrated offer by providing architecture, master planning, landscape design and Town Planning Services, ensuring a holistic approach to the mixed-use design comprising retail, commercial units, over 55’s housing, and affordable housing all focused around a new public realm civic square.
As part of the proposals many of the buildings around the Shopping Centre will be demolished to make way for the new modern facilities that will further enhance the area’s regeneration.
The buildings will be replaced by three new urban blocks with ground floor retail/commercial and residential development above. A fourth block is intended to be a ‘Community’ Hub building, becoming the focal point around the civic square and providing much needed services for the local community.
Each of the four blocks will be positioned around the civic square which will be a vehicle-free landscaped area with seating zones and shrubbery. The space will be used for markets and community events with creative spaces.
Muirhouse Shopping Centre lies at the heart of the Pennywell regeneration project that is the focus a multi-million pound housing programme, with much of the new housing designed by Barton Willmore for developer Urban Union, and currently being built by Robertson Group. It will see over 700 new homes for sale and rent being delivered over the next eight years, with the first phase already complete.
Katherine Mackintosh of Robertson Regeneration, said: “Working with Barton Willmore, the design team and the community we have been able to design a centre that sits perfectly alongside the larger Pennywell regeneration project and will be a further asset to the local community, helping to promote a long term sustainable community.”
Stuart Bishop, Architecture Director at Barton Willmore, said: “We have been involved in the regeneration of Pennywell and Muirhouse now for several years and the award of this further planning approval is a major step forward for the regeneration area. We are immensely proud of the wider proposals we have designed and the positive change that the community are experiencing within their neighbourhood.”
There will be an opportunity to see and comment on the latest plans at Muirhouse Shopping Centre at a drop-in event next Tuesday from 3 – 7pm