Tag: Canonmills

More student housing plans (what else?) for Canonmills

Canonmills is set for further residential expansion with the submission of plans to redevelop a light industrial unit at 26 Dunedin Street into student housing.

Complementing recent proposals to replace Beaverhall House and erect further student accommodation across the street, the scheme supplants an initial build-to-rent proposal with 73 student rooms.

Again led by O’DonnellBrown and HUB the latest plans call for more urban massing to frame the street with ground floor amenities, with gridded accommodation arranged around a central core.

A landscaped amenity space is proposed on a set-back upper floor with the front door recessed behind a landscaped frontage to sit better within the local context.

Specifying a mix of ‘earthy’ brick and metal cladding to reference the previously industrial character of Canonmills the project includes a landscape plan developed by MRG Studio that includes planting along Dunedin Street and Beaverhall, leading to a hard landscaped ‘makers yard’ to the east.

In a planning statement, the architects wrote: “The changing local context provides an opportunity to create and reinforce meaningful connections and new focal points.

“Alongside the proposed Beaverhall House scheme to the east, 26 Dunedin Street has the opportunity to contribute to the changing character of the Beaverhall / Dunedin Street junction, establishing a new key node in the city.”

Studio apartments range from standard 22.3sq/m to larger accessible rooms of 27.2sq/m.  

HUB and Bridges submit plans for Beaverhall Build-To-Rent development

Developer HUB and Bridges Fund Management (“Bridges”), a specialist sustainable and impact investor, have submitted plans for a residential-led development on Beaverhall Road.

The scheme will provide 205 Build to Rent homes, including 52 affordable homes, as well as creative workspace co-designed with locals and a new publicly accessible courtyard.

The proposals for Beaverhall Road will replace an existing warehouse building, with a contemporary scheme that maintains the site’s status as a hub for the local creative community, while bringing new homes to the area.

New public realm, Makers Yard, will sit at the heart of the scheme, acting as a focal point for both residents and commercial tenants, as well as neighbours. The scheme will also feature a large mural, displayed on one of the external walls.

As with all HUB and Bridges projects, people and planet are at the heart of the scheme. The new development makes efficient use of a brownfield city centre site and will deliver ‘tenure-blind’ homes for all ages, meaning all residents’ homes will be of the same high quality.

The plans exceed current Scottish sustainability regulations and include a communal air source heat pump to provide environmentally responsible heating for the entire building and a biodiverse green roof.

Designed by architects shedkm, the scheme has been developed in close collaboration with the local community and current businesses, with the ground floor creative workspace co-designed by the existing tenants.

Situated in Canonmills, the proposed development is within easy reach of the city centre, while benefiting from a sense of community created by the area’s existing amenities.

Situated within walking distance from both Stockbridge, close to the Royal Botanic Gardens, and Leith, which Time Out recently named one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, the HUB and Bridges scheme will allow residents to explore the best that the city has to offer.

Tom Valente, Development Manager at HUB, said: “We are hugely excited to have submitted plans for one of our first schemes in Edinburgh.

“We were struck by the vibrancy of the creative community in the area and knew immediately that we wanted to maintain that by placing studios and maker spaces at the heart of the development.

“The mix of Build to Rent and creative workspace is one that we know works fantastically well in terms of fostering a sense of community and making places where people choose to live.”

New homes and improved artists’ studios planned for Canonmills

Residential developer HUB and Bridges Fund Management, a sustainable and impact investor, have acquired the 1.25-acre Beaverhall House site in Canonmills, Edinburgh.

Beaverhall House is one of the largest pieces of land in a single ownership in the Canonmills area. HUB and Bridges are developing plans for a mixed-use scheme incorporating build-to-rent homes and affordable, contemporary studio space for the area’s local artistic community, along with enhanced public realm.

With the aim of delivering the scheme in 2025, HUB will soon begin extensive community engagement to help shape their plans. Public consultation will run September through to November.

This is the ninth deal on which HUB and Bridges have partnered and builds on their successful track record of delivering well-designed, community-focused residential schemes across the UK.

In line with HUB and Bridges’ focus on delivering homes in well-connected locations, the site is ideally located just a 15-minute walk from the heart of Edinburgh and close to the green spaces to the north, including the Botanical Gardens and Water of Leith.

Damien Sharkey, Managing Director at HUB, said: “This scheme continues our strategy of acquiring sites in ‘lifestyle’ cities – places with strong fundamentals and demand for high quality housing.

“We have been seeking the right opportunity in Edinburgh for some time. Canonmills in particular is the perfect location to create a hub where you have everything you need on your doorstep, catering to the changing ways we want to live and work post-pandemic.

“We are excited to bring HUB’s proven experience of delivering beautifully designed mixed-use schemes in strategic locations to Edinburgh.”

Simon Ringer, Head of Property Funds at Bridges Fund Management, said: “There is a clear need for more lower-cost and affordable housing right across the UK, not least in Edinburgh where affordability is an increasing issue.

“Since 2014 we’ve successfully partnered with HUB on a number of projects, which are on course to deliver over 1,500 high-quality units – including a significant number of affordable homes.

“We’re very pleased that we now have an opportunity to expand this proven model into Edinburgh. We believe this scheme can deliver significant positive impact for the Canonmills area.”

Scarlett Land & Development advised HUB and Bridges on the acquisition. Turley is acting as planning consultant.

Artisan launches new standards for sustainable homes development

Urban Regeneration Specialist Creates New Design Framework to Boost Low Carbon City Living

 

Niche homebuilder Artisan Real Estate has launched an ambitious new blueprint for sustainable development, responding to the changing requirements of local people and communities in a post-Covid world.

Smart, energy-efficient building design has been matched with an innovative approach to placemaking and community, introducing such creative concepts as green roofs, ‘edible’ gardens and green transport plans to sensitive city centre environments. 

Initially focusing on new homes’ projects in Edinburgh, the plan is geared to achieving low to zero carbon development – as well as creating a more open and landscaped environment to benefit general health and well-being.

Linking closely with the City of Edinburgh Council’s ‘Future Edinburgh’ strategy which aims to make the city carbon neutral within the next ten years, Artisan is now applying its radical design philosophy to two major developments in the city: Canonmills Garden to the north of the city centre and the recently acquired Rowanbank Gardens in the popular Corstorphine area and currently subject to a planning application.

“The challenges highlighted by the Covid 19 pandemic has accelerated the importance of changing the way we deliver new home development,” said Clive Wilding, Artisan’s Group Development Director.

“We are now very much going above and beyond the existing Council guidelines as outlined in its ‘Future Edinburgh’ strategy. As well as reducing urban sprawl by optimising the number of people living in well-designed, sustainable homes in low car-use locations well-served by public and ‘self-propelled’ transport, we are also envisaging what people want from their living environment, post-Covid 19.

“Significant emphasis is placed on the quality of internal space and light to create enjoyable home-working environments, whilst accessible gardens and landscaping promote health and well-being by making nature and well-designed outdoor space integral to the day-to-day living experience.”

Artisan’s Canonmills Garden development, scheduled for completion in early 2021, has pioneered the integration of low and zero carbon generating technology.

This includes a combined heat and power system helping to support building energy loads whilst charging electric vehicles, reducing both building and transport CO2 emissions.

This strategy, combined with well-designed green roof spaces and climate responsive building facades, helps improve and enhance environmental integration, natural light provision and the quality of indoor and outdoor air.

Similar development principles have been applied to the major planning application for 126 new homes at Artisan’s Rowanbank Gardens.

The former care-home site in Corstorphine is set to answer the Council’s requirement for well designed, high density living whilst providing spacious communal areas and well-established public transport links ensuring low car ownership.

The development is designed around a central courtyard garden providing nearly twice the level of open space recommended by council planning policy, filled with fruit trees and communal planting and growing beds.  Apartments are designed for open plan living with large windows giving views of the courtyard and the wider area, while green roofs ensure benefits of surface water retention, insulation and ecology.

Artisan is perhaps best known in Scotland for large-scale city regeneration projects like the award-winning New Waverley, which has transformed the heart of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town.

The developer is now applying the same values and philosophy which has guided the successful design and execution of New Waverley to its residential developments, setting it apart from other major homebuilders in Scotland.

“Remaining true to our urban regeneration credentials, at the heart of all Artisan’s developments is building a strong sense of place,” adds Clive Wilding.  

“We are specialising in niche urban developments in the most exciting parts of the city centre, creating a high-value premium product for a wide range of homebuyers, including young professionals, families and downsizers. 

“Artisan now has an 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.

“Our track record in Edinburgh and 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.”

For more information on Artisan’s developments in Scotland and the UK visit:

www.artisanrealestate.co.uk,

www.rowanbankgardens.com

www.canonmillsgarden.com

Hold Me Dear: Four cities, (Extra)ordinary Places

What’s your favourite place in Edinburgh?

canonmills

Fancy joining in some walking/cycling route mapping or a DIY exhibition-building day?

You may have heard about the upcoming Hold Me Dear: Four Cities, [Extra]Ordinary Places photography exhibition taking place in the Rodney St tunnel next to King George V Park in Canonmills.

This co-created community exhibition will feature photographs of people’s favourite personal places in their city, and has invited submissions from people across Edinburgh until the 17 September deadline.

Send us your photo and place in Edinburgh that means the most to you here! Get involved in one of our volunteer workshops! A great way to meet other people, explore the area and contribute to making this unique exhibition!

WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER – Join us from 10am-12noon to explore the local area around Rodney St tunnel in Canonmills and record your favourite walking or cycle routes and places along them. We’ll be turning these into a locally-loved community map to explore the local area from the exhibition in September!

FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER– Join us from 10am to help us DIY build the exhibition! Come prepared to get your hands dirty assembling exhibition boards and painting. You’ll get the chance to see your finished work at the exhibition launch event 12noon on Sunday 27th!

For more info or to sign up to join us, email hello@thehereandnow.org.uk

People Power: reprieve for Earthy

Success for Canonmills campaigners

success

Canonmills campaigners are celebrating tonight following a decision by city councillors to reject an application to demolish a popular restaurant to make way for an ‘eyesore’ block of flats.

The planning battle over Canonmills Bridge has raged for over five years. Planning consent has already been granted for six flats, three townhouses and two restaurants on the site currently occupied by Earthy, but the developers still required permission to demolish the existing building because it is in a conservation area.

Save 1- 6 Canonmills campaigners have fought an energetic campaign to oppose demolition and put their arguments to a hearing of the planning committee earlier today.

Campaign leader Jan Anderson, representatives of both Inverleith and Stockbridge and New Town and Broughton community councils, urban designer Ross McEwan, Inverleith Society, the Cockburn Association and local councillors all spoke against demolition.

Committee members upheld the deputations’ views that demolition would have a negative impact on the Inverleith Conservation Area and noted that the scale of the proposed new development is much larger than the current one-storey building it would replace.

Campaigners are naturally delighted with the decision. One said: “The council has got it right this time and common sense has prevailed. We are so happy that the demolition has been halted but we are also very aware that this may not be the end of the saga, as the developer does have a right of appeal. So we have just won the battle, not the war – but today’s victory means we are ready for anything now!”

Stop the demolition

 

Carry on at your convenience!

Community ownership for public toilets?

granton sq toilets2

Toilets at Granton Square and Canonmills will be among the first tranche of public convenience closures, it has been confirmed. The local public conveniences are among ten that will close over the summer, saving £300,000.

Ross McEwan, administrator of Granton Improvement Society, has called for the local public toilet to be acquired as a community asset.

It’s not a cr*p idea: in other areas across the country enterprising local communities have formed Trusts to save local assets – including public toilets.

One group in Devon successfully took over the running over their village toilets when faced with council closure. Not only did they save the facility, they upgraded it – with the help of Lottery funding, the villagers of Barbrook refurbished the toilets and added a community information room next door too!

During Edinburgh’s budget process in 2011, the Council agreed to reduce the budget of the Public Conveniences service by £300,000, a saving that was delayed until the 2015/2016 financial year. 

Earlier this year an initial list of toilets proposed for closure was selected based on the number of people using the facilities, the conditions of the buildings, alternative facilities available in the local area and the potential for a Community Toilet Scheme.

Prior to final closure of these facilities, consultation has been undertaken with the wider community to establish views on the proposed closures and identify any steps that could be taken to lessen the effects of losing these facilities.

The results of this survey can be found here .

Following consideration of the feedback, the decision has been made to close the following toilets:

·        Ardmillan – end of July 2015

·        Canaan Lane – end of July 2015

·        Canonmills – end of July 2015

·        Currie – end of July 2015

·        Granton Square – end of July 2015

·        Joppa – end of August 2015

·        Juniper Green – end of July 2015

·        London Road – end of August 2015

·        St John’s Road – end of August 2015

·        Tollcross – end of August 2015. 

Two other public conveniences have been spared – at least for now. The toilets at Hawes Pier and Middle Meadow Walk will not be closed at this time, while the options for these sites are reviewed.

To lessen the impact of the closures, the Council is establishing a Community Toilet Scheme with interested businesses across the city.

This would result in participating businesses allowing members of the public to use their toilet facilities without expecting them to make a purchase, in exchange for an annual payment from the Council.

A number of businesses have already expressed an interest in participating through the public toilets survey and some businesses in identified areas have also been approached with information about the Scheme.

A council spokesperson said: “The decision to close these toilets has been a difficult one and it is appreciated that there will be some impact following these closures. To help mitigate this, there have been over 60 additional toilet facilities identified in Council buildings around the city that are available for the public to use.

“These are located in various Libraries, Community Centres, Edinburgh Leisure facilities and Neighbourhood Offices; information about these toilet facilities is available here on the Council’s website.”

Nearly 20 public toilets will remain open.

If you would like to make an enquiry about public toilet closures, please call 0131 529 3030 or email public.toilets@edinburgh.gov.uk.

If you do choose to call the telephone number, be prepared for a lengthy wait … might be worth going for a pee before you call!

 

A bridge too far?

Locals vow to fight Earthy demolition at Canonmills

stop the demolition

Campaigners in Canonmills have vowed to fight the demolishing of a much-loved local resource to make way for a new four-storey development. The campaigners plan to step up their action with a weekend of awareness raising on the bridge.

Led by local resident Jan Anderson and architectural/urban designer and lecturer Ross McEwan, the current campaign has seen a phenomenal response from the community who feel that they have been left in the dark over plans for the 18th century bridge in Inverleith Conservation Area.

And being left in the dark is exactly what will happen if the demolition goes ahead – as a four storey new build is due to be put in it’s place, overshadowing the area, blocking the views of the waters and wildlife and destroying the iconic skyline for residents and tourists to the area alike.

The traditional single-storey building at 1 – 6 Canonmills Bridge has found a place in the hearts of locals and visitors to the area, serving as an attractive and popular hub for social life around a busy junction. An online petition has attracted almost 2500 signatures in just two weeks and the momentum is set to continue with a weekend of partying and petitioning on the bridge to raise awareness this Saturday and Sunday.

If the demolition of the one-storey building is approved the space will be used to erect a mixed use development of two restaurants, six flats and three townhouses. The approval of that building was granted in 2009, but the applicants did not get the necessary permissions and approval needed to demolish a building in a conservation area – and the new development cannot go ahead unless the current building is demolished.

earthy

Jan Anderson said: “We want to ensure that this time everyone is aware of the plans for the area as to date it certainly hasn’t been made clear to the wider public what is happening with this beautiful historic, conservation area. We need people to know that it’s not too late and we can still stop the demolition by writing to the planning sub-committee, the local councillors and spreading the word.”

The demolition is due to appear on city council’s Planning sub-committee agenda on either 27 July or 12 August and the locals are gearing up to spend the coming weeks ensuring that Edinburgh council realises that this particular proposal is seen as a ‘bridge too far’.

 

An inconvenience truth

North Edinburgh to loo-se public lavatories?

toilet1

Toilets at Granton Square and Canonmills are among a dozen public conveniences earmarked for possible closure by the city council. Local residents are being encouraged to take part in a survey to have their say about the closures.

The Council decided in 2011 to reduce the funding of public conveniences in order to make budget savings of £300,000. It’s believed that around ten public toilets must close in order to achieve these savings.

A list of twelve facilities has been identified for closure, based on criteria such as usage, accessibility and condition:

·        London Road

·        Tollcross

·        St John’s Road

·        Canaan Lane

·        Middle Meadow Walk

·        Joppa

·        Hawes Pier, South Queensferry

·        Granton Square

·        Ardmillan

·        Currie

·        Canonmills

·        Juniper Green

Members of the public are being asked for their feedback on how these potential closures would impact on them individually and their communities – this will help the Council to make the final decision about which public conveniences to close.

Residents can now take part in the online survey which will run until Monday 25 May.

There are currently more than 60 publicly accessible toilets across the city and a community toilets scheme is currently under consideration to further improve provision.