Category: Comely Bank

Raeburn Place Foundation: Paving the way for change

Update 
We would like to share with you the improvements RPF is making to the local area. The enabling works have been underway for eight weeks. During that time, and as part of RPF’s investment in this project and the area, significant progress has been made to improve the local environment for residents and visitors alike.
Tree Protection
Careful breaking out of the existing pavement is taking place in order to safeguard and enhance the health of the trees, and at the same time install a new footway which caters for the future growth of these trees.
Minimal Disruption for Local Residents & Businesses
These works are phased across both Portgower Place and Comely Bank Road, in order to cause the least disruption possible to local residents and businesses.
Portgower Place:  
  • The wall is being repaired where necessary
  • Creation of new openings in the wall for the car park in the new development
  • Pavements are being resurfaced
Comely Bank Road: 
  • Site levels on the playing field side have now been brought up to match the levels on Comely Bank Road
  • A temporary footway has been created on Comely Bank Road.
If you would like any further information, please contact Robertson’s site manager, Andy Somerville, who will be on site full-time to manage the works and is available to assist members of the public who have any queries. 
Andy can be contacted via the site office or his mobile 07887 630612.

Enabling works underway at Raeburn Place

Raeburn Place Foundation is delighted to announce the start of planned enabling works at Raeburn Place. These works are being carried out prior to the main project starting on site later this year and include infrastructure groundworks, public realm and a general tidy-up of the ground. Continue reading Enabling works underway at Raeburn Place

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership to meet on 30 January

The next meeting of Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership will take place on Monday 30 January at 6.30pm in Stockbridge Church, Saxe Coburg Street. Continue reading Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership to meet on 30 January

M & S for Raeburn Place development


Raeburn Place Foundation has announced the signing of a lease agreement with M&S Foodhall for the Edinburgh Accies development at Raeburn Place. As the anchor tenant, Marks and Spencer will take 500m² towards the centre of the Comely Bank Road frontage.

Continue reading M & S for Raeburn Place development

Botanic Cottage receives Royal approval

An internationally-important seat of learning from the Scottish Enlightenment which fell into dereliction and was painstakingly dismantled to be reconstructed two miles across the ity has received the royal seal of approval. It’s both the oldest and the newest building at the Botanics, and the magnificent Botanic Cottage was officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal yesterday.

Saved by a community campaign, the Georgian cottage was reconstructed with the express intention of nurturing public engagement so it was appropriate that those welcoming Her Royal Highness included school pupils and community groups.

Volunteers from the Edible Gardening Project were on hand, as were the community activists who fought for the building to be saved, those involved with the reconstruction and RBGE staff who had roles to play in the venture. Main funders, including representatives of the Heritage Lottery Fund were also introduced.

Lucy Casot, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “Thanks to players of the National Lottery, Botanic Cottage has a new lease of life. It will be a lively, welcoming hub where young and old, many with more challenges in life than others, can be inspired by these wonderful gardens and collections. We are delighted to have played our part in this project and look forward to seeing Botanic Cottage blossom.”

The Princess was hosted by Regius Keeper Simon Milne MBE who introduced her to key people in the building’s recent history, from its rescue on Leith Walk in 2008 through the wholesale move and traditional rebuild to those who have established it as a new centre for community and education work at the Garden’s Inverleith site.

Mr Milne commented: “The completion of the Botanic Cottage is such a wonderful achievement for everyone involved in getting the building from Leith to Inverleith and bringing it back to life as a focus for education and community work. Today has provided well-deserved recognition to the team and we were all delighted to have had the opportunity to welcome The Princess Royal.”

Absolutely bankers: one thousand branches closed in two years

High street banks have closed more than 1,000 branches in the last two years, new research from consumer organisation Which? has revealed. Ninety of these are in Scotland – and Scotland-based giants Bank of Scotland (34) and RBS (31) have shut most branches. Continue reading Absolutely bankers: one thousand branches closed in two years

Community facilities at Waitrose Comely Bank

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Local not for profit groups and can now book a free meeting room at Waitrose Comely Bank. The new community room is free of charge and can be used whenever the store is open, including weekends. It has a table and chairs and can accommodate 20 people. To book the room please call the branch on 0131 332 6312.

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