Lothian MSP Miles Briggs is disappointed that the project to transform the Powderhall Railway path into a green corridor has been delayed due to the Spaces for People initiative.
In a letter to the MSP from Edinburgh Council, the Active Travel Department said that “Progress on this has been delayed by the need to re-allocate staff resources to develop and deliver temporary Spaces for People (SfP) schemes”.
The feasibility study into transitioning the disuses railway line into a green corridor is due later this summer, with Network Rail amendable to amendable to the “repurposing of the Powderhall spur line into high-quality urban green corridor for people to walk, cycle and wheel on”.
Network Rail have said the railway line is still classed as operational railway, because the track that leads there is still connected to the wider rail network.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“I am pleased that talks with Network Rail are going well and they are open to transforming the Powderhall spur line into a high quality green corridor.
“It is disappointing that the project team looking at the Green Corridor transformation has been delayed due to working on Spaces for People schemes.
“This is a great opportunity to create a safe green space to connect Powerhall to Meadowbank and beyond.
“The new Powderhall Green Corridor will be excellent for people to walk, cycle and wheel on, as well as fitting in with Edinburgh’s Active Travel strategy.”
Investment in Low Carbon Urban Housing and City Centre Redevelopment across Edinburgh and Glasgow drives ambitious growth plans
Artisan Real Estate is strengthening its market position in Scotland with the announcement of a new management team as the developer moves forward with its £140 million investment plan focusing on low carbon city centre residential redevelopment across Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Experienced property professional David Westwater will join Artisan this month as Scottish Regional Manager, following 40 years of industry experience including Frasers Property UK, Interserve plc and most recently, as Development Director at Robertson Property.
Westwater (above) will help take forward Artisan’s ambitious plans to progress low carbon housing development with mixed-use regeneration across prime city centre brownfield sites – including a £98 million residential investment for Edinburgh alone.
Building on the existing expertise, Artisan is also currently recruiting a Scottish commercial and technical manager to further add to the team’s expansion, complementing the dedicated locally based sales and marketing team.
Artisan has witnessed a significant expansion of its home-building operation in Scotland during the past 12-months, building on its more established track record as one of the UK’s most recognised and award-winning city centre regeneration specialists.
The developer will shortly begin construction on Rowanbank Gardens, an industry-leading, sustainable residential development delivering 126 high-end apartments in the Corstorphine area of Edinburgh.
The development, on a former brownfield site, provides smart energy-efficient design geared to achieving low to zero carbon ratings whilst responding to the rapidly changing requirements of home buyers and the wider community following lockdown.
Artisan’s first residential development in Scotland, the 180-apartment Canonmills Garden overlooking the Water of Leith to the north of Edinburgh city centre, has now sold 85% of all available properties as it approaches completion later this year.
Welcoming the expansion of its Scottish operation, Artisan’s UK Property Director Clive Wilding, says: “These are exciting times for Artisan Real Estate in Scotland, and the strengthening of our team reflects the significant progress we have made during the last 12 months, despite the very obvious challenges faced during lockdown.
“Our current focus is developing prime brownfield sites across city centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow, delivering low carbon, multi-tenure housing with no fossil fuel, linked to high quality external spaces and integrated with a range of green transport options.
“We are delivering niche urban developments in the most exciting parts of the city centre, creating a high-value premium product for a wide range of homebuyers. And we have a very exciting residential pipeline and are actively identifying and securing new opportunities across Scotland’s major city centre areas – a process which will be hugely boosted by our expanded dedicated residential and commercial Scottish operation.”
Artisan is also consolidating its market position as an urban regeneration specialist with a number of high-profile mixed-use commercial redevelopment projects across Scotland.
Construction work on the £80 million transformation of the Custom House building in Glasgow overlooking the River Clyde continues apace with a four-star, 294-bed Clayton Hotel and a 162-bedroom Adagio Apart-Hotel set to create a vibrant riverside quarter when it opens in 2022.
Plaudits are still being received for Artisan’s £250 million New Waverley development (above) at the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, completed in 2020.
The development’s Queen Elizabeth House, now the flagship UK Government hub now home to 2,900 civil servants, was recently recognised by the British Council for Offices and was awarded its Innovation Award, gaining national profile for the development.
Jaco Jansen, Artisan’s Chief Executive Officer adds: “Artisan has an amazing opportunity in Scotland to set a new benchmark for high quality urban regeneration in sensitive city-centre environments – whether it be commercial, residential or mixed-use. This supports our other regional businesses, each with a similar focus in Bristol and Leeds.
“Our track record in Scotland has given us a strong understanding of the importance of high quality placemaking, which is at the heart of all Artisan’s developments. We are an ambitious and hungry company with an increasing appetite for bespoke developments in the best city centre areas. We are looking forward to expanding our footprint across Scotland and the rest of the UK.”
Home sales at Artisan Real Estate’s Canonmills Garden development in Edinburgh are continuing to defy the challenges of lockdown, with almost three-quarters of all available apartments now sold.
Savvy home buyers are increasingly taking advantage of Artisan’s smart web-based technology, combined with the human touch, to enjoy the new home sales experience and make buying decisions – all whilst staying at home.
New computer-generated images just released by the developer show how one of the bedrooms in the Canonmills Garden show home can be transformed into a spectacular working from home environment, adding a touch of luxury and comfort to the ‘stay at home’ experience. And it’s a message which is delivering results with 98s ales and reservations now confirmed out of the 135 apartments available for private sale.
Canonmills Garden brings together a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and colony-style properties which has firmly established itself as the new blueprint for post-lockdown living.
Generous and airy internal dimensions combine with large balconies and terraces overlooking private gardens and the Water of Leith – all underpinned with the latest in smart design and energy efficient technology.
Artisan’s Regional Sales Team Leader, Christie Turner believes the ‘virtual’ selling platform has been a major factor in the continued sales success at Canonmills Garden. “Artisan is an independent, niche developer which, from the start, gave us the freedom to react quickly to the challenges of lockdown,” she says.
“We have now created a strong sales proposition which reflects the challenges of our times by making our website-based visitor experience more user-friendly, introducing chat-boxes directly linked to our sales team as well as cutting-edge interactive graphics including virtual presentations and 3D apartment walk-throughs and plot-selectors.”
As well investing in new technology, Artisan has also continued to bring the human touch to the home-sales process. The developer was one of the first in Scotland to open a brand-new show home once initial lockdown restrictions were eased in the summer of 2020. The Show Home and marketing suite currently remains open despite lockdown restrictions, with enhanced personal safety measures and a pre-booking system allowing potential buyers to get a safe and uninterrupted, socially distanced real-life experience of living at Canonmills Garden.
Christie adds: “The Show Home experience at Canonmills Garden has been a hugely popular lockdown activity with almost 300 visitors passing through our doors so far.
“There’s definitely been a ‘wow factor’ as our customers experience the size and scale of the apartments for the first time. Their reaction as they walk in has been amazing – especially when they experience the light and airy living spaces for the first time, as well as the quality of the flooring and the fittings in the kitchen and bathroom.
“Buyers have quickly seen that Artisan is not your typical house-builder. The specification of Canonmills Garden is amongst the highest in Scotland, with premium Kitchens International kitchens and Victor Paris bathrooms throughout.
“Generous internal proportions and access to private gardens or balconies mean that buyers are getting tremendous value for money in a much sought-after corner of the city, close to the vibrant Stockbridge area.”
Sales at Canonmills Garden are continuing apace with two first-phase blocks now sold out, with all 72% of apartments sold off-plan. A range of apartments is still available with prices starting at £313,000.
Canonmills Garden, Artisan Real Estate’s stylish new homes development in Edinburgh, is in the running for two prestigious accolades in this year’s Scottish Home Awards which takes place this week.
The boutique development, overlooking the Water of Leith to the north of the city centre, is a finalist in the hotly contested Apartment Development of the Year and the blue-riband Large Housing Development of the Year categories.
The Scottish Homes Awards were originally planned for March this year but have been rearranged as a virtual event due to the ongoing restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. And, despite similar restrictions also facing the homes-selling sector in recent times, Canonmills Garden has more than risen to the challenge with over two-thirds of homes now sold.
Charlotte Swanson, Artisan’s Regional Development Manager, believes the ‘virtual’ setting for the Scottish Homes Awards is a fitting platform for Canonmills Garden, which has seen the majority of its homes sold in a virtual environment.
“Artisan is an independent, niche developer which, from the start, gave us the freedom to react quickly to the challenges of lockdown,” she says.
“We created a strong sales proposition which reflects the challenges of our times by making our website-based visitor experience even more user friendly, introducing chat-boxes directly linked to our sales team as well as cutting-edge interactive graphics including virtual presentations and 3D apartment walk-throughs.
“We had a huge advantage in that, even before lockdown, we were pushing a 60 per-cent success rate despite all sales being off-plan and all marketing activity up to that point being conducted off site.”
Artisan’s boutique development, a spectacular mix of 180 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and colony-style properties, was first launched in 2018 and has firmly established itself as the new blueprint for post-lockdown living.
Generous and airy internal dimensions combine with large balconies and terraces overlooking private gardens and the Water of Leith – all underpinned with the latest in smart design and energy efficient technology.
Artisan was subsequently one of the first developers to open a show home and marketing suite once the initial lockdown restrictions were relaxed, reintroducing the human touch to the homes-sales process. And the results, so far, have been spectacular with sales at Canonmills Garden continuing apace with two first-phase blocks now sold out – including 70% already sold off-plan. The first residents will be moving in during the first quarter of 2020
With consumer confidence continuing to return to the market, prices and value are increasing with the average value of apartments growing by seven per-cent since the development’s marketing launch in 2018. The Canonmills Garden show home, designed by well-known Scottish Interior Designer Carol Yates, is now available to visit.
Edinburgh Homes Development Reveals the ‘Wow Factor’ for Post Lockdown Living
The much-anticipated Canonmills Garden show home and marketing suite has opened to the general public, giving potential home buyers a fascinating insight into the possibilities of post-lockdown living.
There’s been a huge amount of interest in the show home so far, with an online booking system in place allowing tours to be carried out safely and in a controlled environment.
Priority tours have already been carried out for existing purchasers at the niche development by Artisan Real Estate, which is a spectacular mix of 180 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and colony-style properties overlooking the Water of Leith in Canonmills, to the north of Edinburgh city centre.
With almost two-thirds of apartments now sold since the development first hit the market last year, purchasers have been delighted with their first glimpse of what their new homes could look like.
“There’s definitely been a ‘wow factor’ as our customers experience the size and scale of the apartments for the first time,” explains Artisan’s Sales Supervisor Christie Turner.
“Up to now, we have sold all 64% of the properties off-plan, so it’s great to be able to now reveal to our purchasers exactly what they have bought.
“And so far, their reaction as they walk in has been amazing to see – especially when they experience the light and airy living spaces for the first time, as well as the quality of the flooring and the fittings in the kitchen and bathroom.”
The show home has been designed by well-known Scottish Interior Designer Carol Yates, with post-lockdown living very much in mind. Scandinavian influences combine with the solid oak flooring, adding a natural texture to the rooms. And while it is a minimalist layout, accents of colour and vibrancy have been introduced with soft-layered fabrics and cushions to bring depth, warmth and vibrancy to the show home.
Sales at Canonmills Garden are continuing apace despite the challenges of recent months with two first-phase blocks now sold out, with only one colony property remaining.
And with consumer confidence returning following the easing of lockdown, prices and value are also increasing at Canonmills Garden with the average value of apartments growing by seven per-cent since the development’s marketing launch in 2019.
A range of apartments is now available at Canonmills Garden with prices starting at £249,500. For more information, visit: www.canonmillsgarden.com. To book an exclusive VIP tour of the new show home, click here:
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack visited Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Redford Barracks yesterday.
The factory makes five million poppies and 15,000 wreaths every year to raise funds for Poppyscotland’s veteran support services. During lockdown the factory staff worked from home, continuing to make poppies for this year’s Scottish Poppy Appeal.
Mr Jack met factory manager Major Charlie Pelling (retired) and many of the former service men and women who work in the factory.
Speaking after his visit, Alister Jack said: “It was a real privilege to visit Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory and meet the former service men and women who produce the famous poppies.
“It was heartening to hear how hard they had all worked to make sure that production continued right through lockdown. Every year Poppyscotland raises much needed money for veterans charities, and I wish them the very best of luck with this year’s appeal.
Charlie Pelling, Manager at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, said: “The lockdown has been a very challenging period for us but it is a testament to the professionalism and commitment of our workforce that they adapted to home working so enthusiastically.
“In doing so that have ensured that the millions of poppies needed for the 2020 Scottish Poppy Appeal would be ready in time. While we expect this year’s Appeal to be different due to the ongoing pandemic, it is vital that we continue to have the support of the public, without which Poppyscotland would not be able to continue offering it’s life-changing support to our Armed Forces community.”
Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, a subsidiary of Poppyscotland, is currently located in Redford Barracks while their permanent premises in Canonmills are refurbished.
Poppyscotland raises money through the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal to deliver support to members of the armed forces community. The charity funds services in advice, employment, housing, mental health, mobility and respite.
Detectives are investigating after a man was assaulted in Edinburgh on Saturday (25 April 2020).
At around 2pm on Saturday afternoon, a 21-year-old man was in King George V Park when he was verbally abused by a group of four men. The man continued on his journey, walking towards a tunnel which leads to Broughton Road.
As the man got towards the end of the tunnel, the four suspects followed him, continuing to shout at him. They then demanded money from him before racially abusing him and assaulting him.
Suspect one is white, in his early 20s, around 6 ft. tall with a slim build. He was wearing a block hooded jacket with white lining and black jeans.
Suspect two is black, in his early 20s around 5 ft. 4 inches in height with a muscular build. He was wearing a black hooded top, blue jeans and dark coloured gloves.
Suspect three is white, in his early 20s, around 5 ft. 10 inches in height with a medium build. He was wearing a black hooded top and blue jeans.
Suspect four is black, in his early 20s, around 5 ft. 6 inches in height and wearing a dark coloured puffer jacket.
Officers continue to gather and review CCTV footage for any additional information on the suspects.
Detective Inspector Kevin Tait said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident.
“I appreciate the number of people out and about is limited during these times but for those who were out, I would ask them to consider if they saw these men or witnessed the incident to contact us. It is unacceptable for people to be targeted in this way and we will do everything we can to trace the men responsible.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 2925 of 25 April 2020. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
Dozens of homeowners at a new Edinburgh development got the chance to meet their future neighbours at the best venue possible – the pub that will become their ‘local’.
Property developer Artisan Real Estate hosted an innovative “Meet Your Neighbours” event for buyers of properties at Canonmills Gardens to encourage the creation of a close-knit community ahead of the development’s completion later this year.
Buyers and their friends turned out for an evening of drinks and canapés at their new local, One Canonmills, as well as the chance to chat and get to know each other.
Jointly-sold by Gilson Gray and Savills, Canonmills Gardens is situated within Edinburgh’s vibrant Canonmills area – a short distance from Stockbridge and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Charlotte Swanson, Regional Development Manager for the North at Artisan, said: “After the success of our summer “Meet the Neighbours” garden party we decided to host another event at what is effectively the local pub in Canonmills.
“We’ve had some really nice, positive feedback from buyers and their friends which is always lovely to hear. Many of the guests remarked on how rare it is to meet and get to know your neighbours before you move into a new home.”
The development comprises 180 one, two, three and four-bedroom properties and has already attracted a variety of diverse buyers – from upsizers and first-time buyers to empty-nesters.
The first two phases have almost sold out – with only a limited range of one- and two-bedroom apartments and a luxury three-bedroom colony home overlooking Canonmills Gardens left to purchase.
Rob McGregor, Associate Director of Property Sales at Gilson Gray, said, “As well as the perfect opportunity for new owners to meet the neighbours, the event was also an opportunity for friends and family to experience more of the Canonmills area before they move.
“It represented a genuine feeling of people coming together to create a new community in the area. I’m sure that there were friendships already being formed and people talking about meeting up for walks, events and sporting activities.”
Charlotte added: “As an added incentive, we gifted £500 John Lewis vouchers to both buyers and friends if a friend also registered to buy a property at Canonmills Gardens.”
Artisan Real Estate focuses on delivering sustainable, mixed-use developments, to create vibrant, high-quality environments.
The Edinburgh Doors Open Day 2019 gives you the chance to discover some of Edinburgh’s most unique and interesting buildings which are normally closed to the public. Across the weekend you can visit these fantastic sites across the city, completely free of charge.
Open the door on Edinburgh’s hidden gems
The Edinburgh Doors Open Days is one of the city’s favourite free days out. This is your chance to explore some of Edinburgh’s most important buildings. Many venues will offer behind the scenes tours, talks or exhibitions to bring the history of these monumental buildings to life.
New locations for 2019 include:
– Castle Mills
– Collective at the City Observatory
– Dean Gardens
– Drumsheugh Baths Club (above)
– Informatics Forum
– MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine
– Panmure House
– Seafield Treatment Centre
Plus, locations such as Anatomical Museum, Burns Monument and the Lothian Buses headquarters will be opening their doors to the public once again this year.
Read about all of these places and more on the Doors OpenDays website.
