Tag: POwderhall

Final phase of Powderhall Stables transformation underway

The final phase of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Powderhall Stables refurbishment is now underway.

As part of the redevelopment of the wider site, the transform of this historic 1890s former stable block in the Broughton neighbourhood of Edinburgh will deliver a mix of individual studios and co-working spaces aimed at microbusinesses, as well as two event spaces, supporting dozens of jobs.

The building will also feature two flexible function spaces with kitchen facilities suitable for hosting a wide variety of events. The former stabling yard to the rear of the building will be turned into a new plaza. The facility is set to open in early 2022, with the Council preparing to seek expressions of interest from potential operators.

The refurbishment of the building has been designed by the award-winning practice Collective Architecture, supported by a design team including Currie & Brown, David Narro Associates, and RSP Consulting Engineers.

Following completion of a package of enabling works by Chamic Industrial Services, the main contract will be delivered by the construction services provider Sharkey, which has a strong track record of delivering heritage projects in Edinburgh including the overhaul of the historic Dalry Swim Centre.

The refurbishment of Powderhall Stables has been made possible by support from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund along with Miller Homes’ Bonnington Micro Business Fund.

Powderhall Stables forms part of the Council-led regeneration of the old Powderhall Waste Transfer Station and adjoining former bowling greens. The wider development will deliver over 200 homes and an Early Learning and Childcare Centre, along with new green spaces and enhanced public realm, including improvements to St. Mark’s Path and two new squares.

Councillor Kate Campbell, the Council’s Housing, Homelessness, and Fair Work Convener, said: “We’ve been talking about the potential of the stables block at Powderhall for a long time – it’s so good that work is now starting, and we’ll see it back in use as a cornerstone of the whole development.

“The community were very involved in shaping these plans and telling us what they needed from the development. So, it’s fantastic that this amazing building will be available next year, supporting jobs by providing affordable work space for small businesses and local people, alongside creating a flexible space for the community to use.

“It’s part of our wider regeneration of this site, delivering new affordable homes and facilities that will benefit the whole community.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, the Council’s Housing, Homelessness, and Fair Work Vice Convener, said: “I’m looking forward to seeing the development start to take shape over the course of next year, restoring the lovely stable blocks, bringing them back into use and giving local residents back this area that has been unused for so long.

“Earlier this year we also saw planning permission submitted for the former Bowling Green site as part of the wider Powderhall development. This will see one of the first intergenerational facilities built in Scotland and will offer health and wellbeing benefits for the older residents and new learning and social opportunities for children attending the nursery.”

The Scottish Government’s Community Wealth Minister, Tom Arthur, said: “This is a great project which will restore the previously abandoned category B-listed former stable block, transform it into a modern work and events space and provide the local community with new places to work, learn and socialise.

“This project has been made possible by £1.4 million investment from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, with local community involvement in progressing the plans.

“The fund is playing a vital role, helping reinvigorate local communities and town centres by investing in projects that provide jobs and support local businesses. We are committed to seizing Scotland’s economic potential, creating secure, sustainable and satisfying jobs and supporting businesses recover from the Coronavirus pandemic. As part of that work, we are continuing to empower local people to invest in their communities’ future.

Mark Halliday, Contracts Director for Sharkey, said: “We are delighted to be involved in delivering a restoration project that will repair, protect and enhance the heritage of one of Edinburgh’s valued public buildings.

“We very much look forward to working in collaboration with the rest of the project team and to sharing our skills and experience on this exciting regeneration project.”

For more information, please visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/powderhall.

MSP calls for former Powderhall railway line to be made a green corridor

True Blue Tories turning Green?

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has called for former Powderhall railway line to be made a green corridor.

The City of Edinburgh Council has confirmed it is carrying out a feasibility study for the former railway line to be converted to a green corridor.

The former Powderhall railway line is not one of the initial four routes included to be made into a green corridor by the city council  in phase 1 of the recent Edinburgh Strategic Sustainable Transport Study.

Network Rail have 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, has said that a green corridor would be the optimal use for the old railway line, as Edinburgh moves towards a carbon neutral city.  

He said: “Across Edinburgh our old disused rail lines have become more significant during the pandemic and well utilised by the public. They have provided important walking, cycling and exercise spaces.

“This is a great opportunity to create a safe green space to connect Powderhall to Meadowbank and beyond. “I’ve been campaigning for the railway line, at the Powderhall former waste disposal site to Meadowbank, to become our latest urban green corridor.”

Planning application submitted for Powderhall regeneration

The city council’s Powderhall regeneration project has reached another major milestone with the submission this week of a planning application by Collective Architecture for the first phase of a new development.

Following extensive public consultation this phase will include a new Early Learning and Childcare Centre with places for 128 children with 27 accessible council homes, designed for older persons, situated above. This intergenerational facility will be one of the first of its kind in Scotland and will offer health and wellbeing benefits for the older residents and new learning and social opportunities for children attending the nursery.

This new intergenerational building will also be one of the first Passivhaus-standard buildings built by the Council, meaning that it will use little energy.  All the properties will be fully wheelchair-adapted, accessible via two lifts and will have storage for mobility scooters and bikes.

The new Early Learning and Childcare Centre, which will be managed by Broughton Primary School, will allow for the existing nursery provision to relocate to the new centre. This will provide more childcare places for the local community and open up more space for the primary school.  It will also have a multi-purpose room, which will be available for public use via the school lets system.

The development also proposes to create a new civic space as an entrance to Powderhall and make improvements to St Mark’s Path, together with a new outdoor educational space for Broughton Primary School, again available for community use via school lets.

Subject to planning approval the Council hopes to start on site with the building and associated works this summer (ref: 21/00381/FUL).

Councillor Kate Campbell, Convenor for Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work, said: “The community have absolutely shaped the development plans for this site, so I’d like to thank everyone who gave up their time to share their thoughts with us. The plans are better because of their contributions and will have community facilities that work for local people.

“These new homes will be accessible and energy efficient. They will all be fully wheelchair adapted and built to the internationally recognised Passivhaus-standard, with renewable power generation on site. So they are both contributing to our Net Zero Carbon by 2030 target and our commitment to building 20,000 affordable homes by 2027.

“We’ll start by restoring the stable block and work will begin imminently. This will create affordable, flexible workspace for small businesses – supporting dozens of local jobs. The function space can be used for community events, such as art classes or exhibitions.  

“I’m looking forward to seeing the development start to take shape over the course of next year, restoring the lovely stable blocks, bringing them back into use and giving local residents back this area that has been unused for so long.”

Councillor Ian Perry, Convenor for Education, Children and Families, said: “This entire Powderhall development will bring fantastic benefits to the local community, creating great spaces to live, work and play – while being safe and carbon neutral.

“It’s great to see that through the new Early Learning and Childcare Centre more children in the area will be able to access nursery spaces. This will allow us to meet our commitments to making early years provision more flexible, to fit family needs, and deliver 1,140 hours a year of free early learning and childcare for all three- and four-year olds and eligible two-year olds.

“This phase of development forms part of the wider regeneration of the former Powderhall Waste Transfer Station and the adjacent former Stables building. In total, the development will deliver more than 200 homes – over a third of them affordable.”

Nicola McLachlan, Project Architect, Collective Architecture said: “The recent pandemic has reinforced the significant and detrimental impact that unsustainable living and social conditions can have on the quality of our lives, heightening our sense of accountability.

“The Powderhall mixed-use masterplan is reflective of an ambitious client and a participatory place-based design approach that has developed innovative and ethical living possibilities, taking visionary steps towards ensuring future communities are both socially and environmentally sustainable and successfully rooted with their surrounding neighbours.

“Phase 2 of the masterplan focuses on sharing, agency, and autonomy in the context of increasing age demographics, rising levels of loneliness and takes cognition of the significant shortage of older persons homes – particularly within urban areas.

“The proposals create a purpose-built intergeneration building where residents and nursery children can seamlessly co-exist, creating a variety of spaces where people can enjoy interaction and sharing space and time together. A project that marks a significant step towards designing with an agenda where wellbeing and high quality of life for all generations is our measure.”

Carl Baker, Architect and Passivhaus Designer, Collective Architecture said: “The project contributes to The City of Edinburgh Council’s target of becoming a net zero carbon local authority, and the adoption of the Passivhaus Standard ensures this is a tangible aspiration.

“In addition to Passivhaus and the proposed renewable technologies, sustainability has been considered throughout the project from the co-location of services and the shared building elements, to the reduction of embodied carbon by incorporating a circular strategy.

“Furthermore, there are many benefits for the client and end users of this project which are provided by the intergenerational approach and in striving to achieve the Passivhaus Standard. Some of these will be felt immediately, while others such as long-term health improvements and access to a high-quality learning environment will be experienced for generations to come.”