The Management Committee of C. C. C. (Corstorphine Community Centre) is delighted to announce that The Hub (formerly Westfield House) on Kirk Loan is now in community ownership.
Negotiations with the City of Edinburgh Council for the purchase of the building and grounds have been successfully completed, and the building became the property of C. C. C. on 20th February 2024.
It has been a long journey to secure a new home for a community centre in the heart of Corstorphine, following the fire in 2013 which devastated the Public Hall.
We are more than grateful to the individuals and organisations who have got us to this point, offering invaluable expertise and time, and raising and awarding funding over the 10 plus years it has taken.
We now have a building, situated in the heart of Corstorphine which will be devoted to promoting community wellbeing and activities.
We will do this by being the home for organisations needing a local base, by delivering a growing programme of activities in-house, by providing letting space for groups and organisations to deliver their activities within Corstorphine, and by offering space for events.
The next big task, so that this all becomes a reality, is to make the building fit for purpose by ensuring it is fully accessible, inviting to use, and environmentally sound. It will be a major works programme and plans are already in the making.
We want to ensure that the end result is a community centre for the 21st century, with a viable business model, which serves and enhances life for folk in our community.
Wednesday 28th February at Corstorphine Community Centre, 5 Kirk Loan, Corstorphine between 2pm and 7pm.
PLANS to redevelop a corner plot in one of Edinburgh’s most desirable aareas have resurfaced with a switch from private flats to a care home in response to an ageing population profile.
Northcare has chosen a 0.56-hectare site at the corner of St John’s Road and Manse Road, launching a public consultation on its plans for a 60-bed unit designed by Unum.
Proposed Development
Being undertaken by award-winning operator Northcare (Scotland) Ltd, this proposed mixed-use development includes a 60-bed luxury care home, five assisted living apartments and ground floor commercial units facing onto St-John’s Road, all within a high-quality landscaped setting.
If consented, the care home complex will address an identified demand for care beds in the local area, exceeding expectations by providing high-quality care accommodation.
One floor (a third of the building) will be devoted to dementia care, and the care home will also provide residents’ entertainment spaces including private dining facilities, cinema, activity rooms, beauty salon, cafe/brasserie and gallery. These allow the residents to enjoy a “day out” without the need to leave the home. The cafe/brasserie and beauty salon will also be accessible to the public, and in addition to this two commercial units will be available for rent.
A residents’ amenity space and activity room will be located on the top floor of the care home. Benefiting from extensive glazing and an external terrace, this will take advantage of the views over Edinburgh towards the Pentland Hills and beyond.
The proposed development is set within an attractive landscape, enhancing the local area, and includes the creation of a secure landscaped garden to the rear of the property.
The site is directly accessible to a range of services, facilities and amenities, and is served by direct access to the public road network with good pedestrian, cycle and public transport access for both visitors and staff.
Ten car parking spaces are proposed, including two universally accessible and two electric vehicle charge points (EVCP). Secure and covered cycle stands, encouraging sustainable modes of travel, will also be provided.
Echoing the prior Michael Laird scheme the latest proposals include a dedicated dementia floor and secure landscaped grounds as well as a top-floor glazed amenity space with an outdoor terrace. Spread across six independent living wings the ‘L’ plan build is served by a double-height entrance lobby with services located in a partial lower ground floor.
Key Benefits
Regenerating this brownfield site, the development will bring a number of benefits to the local community:
Addressing an ageing population
As is well-recognised, Scotland is currently in the midst of a care crisis, with limited lifestyle choices for elderly residents requiring care services. The current stock of care homes and supported housing is not able to meet the future demand of care requirements within Edinburgh.
With an increasingly ageing population, this situation is set to worsen, with the level of bed demand set to almost double over the next 30 years.
A shortfall of care home provision in the wider area has been demonstrated by a Demographic and Needs Analysis Review, prepared to support the development. Much of the existing stock is not fit for purpose and requires to be modernised and upgraded to meet Care Inspectorate standards of provision.
It is anticipated that a proportion of those in the new home will be from the local community, and thereby already registered with a local GP. In addition to this, we partner up with GP practices and pay a private retainer to allow them to get sufficient resources to support our care homes. As an example, we already have such an agreement in place with Blackhall Medical Centre.
A new care complex such as that proposed will improve choice and in due course release housing locally.
Employment and investment
Northcare (Scotland) Ltd will acts as both the developer and operator of the facility, which will see a capital investment of £15 million from buying the site to development. The mixed-use development aims towards net-zero, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving gold standard.
In addition to the construction phase, when operational it is anticipated that 70 permanent jobs will be created at a range of levels and in a variety of trades, including care assistants, housekeeping staff, managers and chefs.
A cafe/brasserie and hair salon will be accessible to the public, and in addition to this two commercial units will be available for rent.
The proposed much-needed accommodation for an ever-increasing elderly population will allow them to live their lives with dignity and independence, with special assistance on hand, exceeding the requirements of the Care Inspectorate regulations.
Community Consultation
NORTHCARE says: ‘We strongly believe in the need for ongoing dialogue regarding our care home proposals, and through a meaningful and effective pre-application consultation (PAC) process are engaging early on with the local community and other key stakeholders.
As what is classed as a major development and in accordance with the planning regulations, a minimum 12-week period of consultation in advance of the submission of the planning application is required. This includes the holding of at least two public consultation events.
Through this process we are promising to consult and listen carefully to your views, making changes where possible to inform and improve our proposals, prior to the submission of a planning application to City of Edinburgh Council. This is anticipated to take place in April 2024.
Consultation Event
A second public consultation event will be held on Wednesday 28th February at Corstorphine Community Centre, 5 Kirk Loan, Corstorphine between 2pm and 7pm (the first was held on 31 January).
Consultation boards will be available to view, providing information on the proposals, with the project team on hand to explain and answer questions, and the opportunity to provide feedback, which will play a crucial role in refining and enhancing our plans.
This event seek to progress and update the proposals following feedback from the first consultation event held at the same venue on Wednesday 31st January, considering and incorporating any amendments where appropriate.
If you want to make comments on the proposals, you may do so at the public consultation event, via the project website using the feedback form below, by email to: hello@northcare-manse.co.uk,or by writing to: Orbit Communications, 42 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4HQ. The deadline for receiving these is Wednesday 13th March.
Comments made do not constitute representations to City of Edinburgh Council. A further opportunity to make representations to the Council will be available following formal submission of the planning application.
It is anticipated that a planning application will be submitted to City of Edinburgh Council in April and a site start is estimated by the spring of 2025.
Bruce encourages young people to embrace unexpected career paths
Bruce Lamb (19) has joined the funeral industry and is encouraging other young people to keep an open mind when considering their career choices.
Broxburn-based Bruce works alongside his father at Scotmid Funerals in Forrester Park, where his role includes preparing coffins, ceremonial driving and speaking with recently bereaved family members. No two days are the same for Bruce, something he has described as “one of the best parts of the job”.
After finishing school, Bruce pursued a football scholarship in Virginia, USA but, when that did not work out, he returned home to reconsider his options and choose another path.
As a young boy, Bruce was fascinated by his father’s job. He learned a lot about grief and the whole funeral experience from him, including how to approach the first conversation, managing the service arrangements and aftercare, and how this process helps the bereaved.
When the opportunity to join Scotmid Funerals at Forrester Park came, he jumped at the chance and is so pleased he did.
When asked what people’s reaction is to his job, Bruce answered: “Most people are taken aback to start with and quickly fire a lot of questions at me about the job. When I explain how much I enjoy my work, I receive a positive reaction.”
“I agree that it is unusual for someone my age, but Scotmid has broken the mould. I don’t mind being the youngest because l can learn so much from experienced operatives. Everyone at Scotmid has been great in helping me to be the best I can be in my post.”
Since starting his new role, Bruce has grown a strong satisfaction from his work. He said: “The best part of the job is receiving compliments or a thank you card from a bereaved persons’ relative or loved one.
“This is by far the most welcome reward in doing the job and I’m honoured to play a small role in helping others during their time of need. It’s a long way from what I originally planned to do with my life, but I can’t imagine being anywhere else now.
“I think the biggest misconception is that all funeral workers must be sad (or a little strange?!) to do the job, which is so far from the truth. There is compassion and humour within the industry, with each having their time and place.”
Bruce is now aiming to tackle this common misconception about the funeral industry and is encouraging other young people to keep an open mind when it comes to their career choices.
He continued: “I think the industry is often overlooked because schools do not promote it as a potential career. I would and have recommended the job to a few of my friends and would heartily encourage any younger person to go for it.
“I wanted to be a footballer, but I have joined the funeral industry instead. I may be going against ‘the norm’, which I think is great as it changes the definition of the role.”
Outside of work, Bruce enjoys an active lifestyle – playing for his local football team, Pumpherston u20s, and playing golf when he has free time. Sports, as well as his Xbox, gives him time to unwind after work and spend time with friends.
James Blackburn, Head of Scotmid Funerals, said: “It’s great to see the younger generations coming into the funeral care industry and taking such pride in their work for people in their time of grief.
“Bruce is a great example of embracing the fact that there is no wrong career path and I hope other young people consider funeral care as a personally and professionally rewarding career choice.”
With support from the SLIC Climate Engagement Fund ‘Shelf Life’ Corstorphine Library will be hosting a month long fashion swap during March to help raise awareness of the environmental impact of fashion.
If you have clothes that are clean, in good condition but you just don’t ever get around to wearing, we would love to have them.
Donations can be dropped off at Corstorphine library any time that we are open – (that’s 1pm – 8pm Monday and Wednesday and 10am to 5pm Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) – please don’t leave clothes outside the library when we are shut!
Our Winter sale is on so come on down to our Charity Shop and grab a bargain!!
TEA DANCE
Our first Tea Dance of the year is on Saturday 27th January. It’s very popular and tickets are selling fast!! Pop in to our Charity Shop to make sure you get yours…
Initial phase of sustainable Edinburgh new homes development now complete
Edinburgh’s Rowanbank Gardens has welcomed its first residents – in little more than two years since construction started on the new homes’ development dubbed a ‘spectacular blueprint for low carbon living.’
Almost 80 per-cent of the development’s first ‘Appleberry’ homes phase is now sold and occupied, with the next phase due for completion this month.
Located in the heart of the bustling Edinburgh suburb of Corstorphine, Rowanbank Gardens is now delivering 93 apartments for private sale set around a large garden space filled with fruit trees and communal planting beds.
The development is proving to be a popular destination for first-time buyers and downsizers wanting to live in well-connected, vibrant community just minutes from the city centre.
Nearly half of all apartments have already been snapped up by savvy buyers, impressed by the combination of high-quality living, immaculate environmental credentials and central location, with just four apartments remaining of the completed Appleberry phase.
Developer Artisan Real Estate scooped the first ever ‘Excellence in Sustainability’ gong at this year’s Scottish Homes Awards. And while Artisan has been hitting the headlines for the impeccable environmental credentials of its developments, it is the high quality of the internal spaces which has been wooing buyers, according to Artisan’s New Homes Sales Advisor Izzy Bastiani.
“It’s wonderful to be welcoming our first Rowanbank Gardens residents into their new homes,” she says. “Our buyers are now experiencing at first-hand the light and airy living spaces, as well as the quality of the natural oak flooring and the fittings in the kitchen and bathroom, all of which come as standard.”
The new occupants of Rowanbank Gardens are also benefitting from the developer’s commitment to achieving zero carbon low-cost living. It is one of the first large developments in Scotland to employ individual air source heat pumps in all apartments, providing both heating and domestic hot water. Izzy adds: “As well as experiencing an extremely high quality of life at Rowanbank Gardens, homeowners can also save money as well as the environment.
“Energy costs have been predicted to cost up to 60% less than other new build apartments in the surrounding area, with research showing that average annual hot water and space heating costs for a two-bedroom apartment could be as low as £775 per year, or less than £65 per month*.”
Prices for a one-bedroom apartment at Rowanbank Gardens start from £245,000, with a two-bedroom from £325,000 and a three-bedroom from £422,500.
To discuss the incentives currently available or to book an appointment at the Rowanbank Gardens show home, visit the development website www.rowanbankgardens.com or call 0131 516 3302.
* Based on a typical two-bedroom apartment – figures correct as of Q4 2022.
A spectacular outlook is guaranteed for home buyers following the completion of three striking new three-bed homes at Rowanbank Gardens, Edinburgh.
The apartments, each of which are now ‘move-in ready,’ offer between 86 and 94 square metres of light and airy space and are located on the first, third and fourth floor of the recently completed ‘Appleberry’ phase of the award-winning new homes development.
All the apartments have a fully fitted kitchen opening on to a substantial balcony area and come complete with natural oak flooring and stylish bathrooms. Prices for the three-bed apartments range from £422,500 for the first-floor property to £440,000 for the fourth-floor location.
Located in the heart of the bustling Edinburgh suburb of Corstorphine, Rowanbank Gardens is now welcoming residents to the first of its 93 apartments for private sale set around a large garden space filled with fruit trees and communal planting beds. The development is proving to be a popular destination for first-time buyers and downsizers wanting to live in well-connected, vibrant community just minutes from the city centre.
Nearly half of all apartments have already been snapped up by savvy buyers, impressed by the combination of high-quality living, immaculate environmental credentials and central location, with just four apartments remaining of the completed Appleberry phase. Rowanbank Gardens is being delivered by Artisan Real Estate which scooped the first ever ‘Excellence in Sustainability’ gong at this year’s Scottish Homes Awards, and the spectacular three-bed apartments are amongst the first homes to be completed at the development.
“With the completion of this first homes phase, it’s great to be able to give home buyers first-hand experience of the size and scale of each apartment which is especially evident with the launch of the three-bed apartments,” says Artisan’s New Homes Sales Advisor Izzy Bastiani. “Our buyers are wowed by the light and airy living spaces, as well as the quality of the natural oak flooring and the fittings in the kitchen and bathroom, all of which come as standard.”
The new occupants of Rowanbank Gardens are also benefitting from the developer’s commitment to achieving zero carbon low-cost living. Izzy adds: “Rowanbank Gardens is one of the first large developments in Scotland to employ individual air source heat pumps in all apartments, providing both heating and domestic hot water. So, as well as experiencing an extremely high quality of life homeowners can also save money as well as the environment.”
Prices for a one-bedroom apartment at Rowanbank Gardens start from £245,000, with a two-bedroom from £328,000 and a three-bedroom from £422,500.
To book an appointment at the Rowanbank Gardens show home, visit the development website at www.rowanbankgardens.com or call 0131 516 3302.
