redevelopment – Page 2 – The NEN

Former Leith bingo hall to be redeveloped

MORE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION EARMARJKED FOR LEITH

Members of the public are being invited to offer feedback on plans to redevelop the bingo hall located on Leith’s Manderston Steet.

Developer Longstone (2) Limited has unveiled plans to conserve and redevelop the existing building into new student homes. This is in response to a local desire to preserve the building, located in the Leith Conservation Area, and address a ‘chronic undersupply of student accommodation in the capital’.

The proposals follow the decision by the current operators of the bingo hall, Club 3000, to move to new premises in nearby Ocean Terminal in summer 2024.

The conservation and retention of the property does restrict its potential uses and following the building’s inclusion in the Leith Conservation Area, the potential to use the site for housing was explored.

However, the building is not well-suited to a residential conversion and a viable scheme would fail to comply with many of the Council’s planning policies for new housing (for example, dual aspect dwellings and minimum open space requirements). If housing were to be delivered, it would require the demolition of the building.

The proposed use as student homes allows for the creation of a high-quality development that complies with the Council’s student housing policies, while also retaining and enhancing the elements of the building that contribute to the surrounding Conservation Area.

The existing building is in poor condition and is extremely energy inefficient. In 2020, Historic Environment Scotland (Scotland’s heritage agency) assessed the building for potential listed status and concluded that it did not meet the criteria of special architectural or historic interest.

The use of the space for student homes, will also serve to free up residential properties that otherwise would have been used by students, whose numbers in Edinburgh’s universities have grown by over 25% between 2016/17 and 2021/22 (Cushman & Wakefield Student Needs Assessment, July 2023).

The public consultation event will take place on Wednesday 17th January 2024 between 4:00pm and 7:30pm in McDonald Road Library, 2-8 McDonald Road, Edinburgh EH7 4LU.

Exhibition boards detailing the project will be available at the event, as well as from the project website (www.manderston-street.co.uk) from 9am on the day of the event.

Feedback forms will also be available, and attendees are encouraged to share their views. The form will also be available on the website and all feedback should be returned by Wednesday 31 January.

A Longstone (2) Limited spokesperson said: “The local community has expressed a strong desire to conserve the former mill building and our plans for the site allow us to do this.

“While enhancing the character of the Conservation Area, the conversion of the building will help to relieve pressure on the local housing market. The proposals will also deliver considerable economic benefits in terms of the construction and operation of the development, and with students spending money in local shops and other outlets.

“We are keen to welcome local residents to our public consultation event and to working with them as we progress the development.”

Green light for Ocean Terminal planning application

CITY Councillors have today (10 January) given their unanimous approval for a major planning application redeveloping the Ocean Terminal centre at Leith waterfront.

The Ocean Terminal Masterplan has been in development and consultation with the local community since 2020, and promises to deliver a sustainable new neighbourhood on Leith’s waterfront with the provision of new homes in addition to community amenities, health and leisure facilities for people from all over the Capital and further afield.

Planning consent for the first phase of the masterplan, for part-demolition of the multi-storey car park and former Debenhams retail unit, was received in autumn 2022. Phase 2, which has received approval from councillors today, will deliver the full Masterplan with the provision of a pedestrian-centred waterfront, new mixed-use community amenities comprising residential, retail and commercial spaces, and high-quality public realm spaces.

During the hearing of City of Edinburgh Council’s Development Management Sub-Committee, councillors commended the developer’s attention to detail and incorporation of key Council and national priorities including housing provision, green space provision, community amenity and sustainability.

Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Ambassador Investment Management, the Scottish owner of Ocean Terminal, said: ““Having worked closely with residents, businesses, locally-elected representatives and planning officers at the City of Edinburgh Council since 2020, we are delighted to have received approval for our Masterplan today.

“The result of our collaborative engagement with local stakeholders is a development which puts community front and centre.

“Our plans will meet Edinburgh’s housing needs during a housing emergency, support the vibrancy of Leith waterfront with the creation of new commercial units, serve our community through various amenities including a supermarket and medical centre, and embed sustainability.

“With planning approvals in place, we look forward to delivering this vision for a new neighbourhood on Leith’s waterfront.”

The plans amount to a £250 million investment in Leith’s waterfront, retaining and creating over 600 local jobs, with further job opportunities during the construction phase, and had won the support of neighbouring businesses and community groups.

Brendan Reilly, President of Leith Chamber of Commerce said: “We at the Leith Chamber of Commerce are delighted to hear that the proposed transformation of Ocean Terminal has gained consent.

“The redevelopment of this area will improve and add significant enjoyment value to the cosmopolitan and European feel that visitors and residents alike already experience when spending time in this thriving area that is Leith.”

Over 530 new homes with multiple tenure options will be constructed under the Masterplan, with a key focus being residential amenity with secure courtyard gardens and raised terraces.

Opening up access to the waterfront and The Royal Yacht Britannia via an extension to Ocean Drive, the project will re-connect the new neighbourhood back to Leith. Together with the re-imagined retail centre, the high-quality public realm spaces will create a safe, vibrant neighbourhood and new waterfront destination for the wider community.

Neil Whatley, Associate Director at Keppie Design which developed the architectural design of the proposals, said: “Keppie is delighted that the City of Edinburgh Council has approved the proposals for Phase 2 of the re-imaging of the existing retail centre, securing its future retention and operation as a key local amenity and introducing a new, residential-led, mixed-use neighbourhood.

“Ambassador Investment Management’s bold and determined vision will allow the Ocean Terminal project to buck the current trend for whole-scale retail demolition – instead retaining and reimagining the existing asset, creating an outward looking development, integrated into a wider, residential-led urban environment that embodies the rich history, character and vibrant spirit of Leith.”

Colin Smith, Director, Head of Planning Scotland at Turley, acting for Ambassador Investment Management said: “This approval marks a significant milestone in Ocean Terminal and Leith’s regeneration, completing the strategic reshaping of Ocean Terminal from an inward-looking, retail and leisure driven commercial centre, to an outward-looking, mixed-use town centre.

“The dynamic neighbourhood will enhance the quality of living, working and leisure space for all, including new public realm next to the waterfront.

“Key sustainability and climate change objectives from the National Planning Framework 4 – which supports the recycling of assets, such as brownfield land, promotes local living and compact urban growth – are delivered by this development, providing convenient, accessible, mixed-tenure living, well connected to the wider city.”

Sight Scotland Edinburgh office site set for redevelopment

Yup, it’s more student housing, folks!

National charity Sight Scotland and property developer, S Harrison Developments, have jointly submitted a planning application to redevelop the site of the charity’s former HQ on Gillespie Crescent in Edinburgh, into student homes.

The funds released by the sale of the site will enable Sight Scotland, a charity dedicated to meeting the challenges of visual impairment, to further expand its reach, and support even more people living with sight loss within existing services such as the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh. It will also provide future services for the city as well as expanding its ability to fund medical research to tackle the root causes of sight loss.

Sight Scotland occupied the building for nearly a century and continue to repair and maintain it, despite vacating the building early in 2021 as it was no longer fit for purpose prior to taking the decision to sell it.

Staff were relocated to modern, open plan offices in Gorgie, suited to current working requirements, allowing them to work alongside the Scottish Braille Press Service.

Proposals include demolition of the existing vacant building and erection of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and associated amenity space, landscaping and infrastructure. A total of 145 bedrooms are proposed, with additional amenities including a cinema/multimedia room and gym. There will 100% cycle parking provision.

The development makes best use of the site and will deliver a high quality, well-designed, sustainable development, including green roofs, solar panels, air source heat pumps (ASHP), a rain garden and permeable paving.

A shared, publicly accessible amenity green space, will offer an area in front of the building for people to walk, sit and rest and provides the opportunity for social interaction of different groups within the community. The existing trees will also be retained.

Development will serve to address a well-recognised shortfall in student accommodation in the city, with a student homelessness crisis recognised by the Council in June 2023.

Between 2016/17 and 2021/22, student numbers in the city have increased by over 25%, from 53,845 to 67,355. Included in this, the University of Edinburgh saw numbers increase by 27% and Napier University by 29% over this period.¹

Demand for student accommodation greatly outstrips supply, and places significant pressure on traditional family housing stock, with students occupying homes that would in many cases have previously been occupied by families.

The delivery of PBSA has the potential to free up such housing, or at the minimum provide accommodation for students who would have gone into these homes. This approach is supported by the Council’s planning guidance.

A spokesperson for S Harrison Developments commented: “We are in a housing crisis, with a need for all types of housing.

“Demand for student accommodation greatly outstrips supply, and this is placing significant pressure on traditional family housing stock, with students occupying homes that would in many cases have previously been occupied by families.

“This proposed development on a brownfield site, if approved, will respond to this increasing demand, housing students in a central location with easy access by active travel and public transport to universities and delivering significant investment into the local community.”

Davina Shiell, Director of Marketing, Communications and Engagement for Sight Scotland said: “The funds released by the sale of the site, if consented, will enable us to further expand our reach, and support even more people living with visual impairments within existing services such as the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.

“It will also allow us to provide new future services for the city, as well as expanding our ability to fund medical research to tackle the root causes of sight loss.”

North Edinburgh Arts secures £250,000 Community Ownership funding

LOCAL ARTS ORGANISATION REACHES 80% OF FUNDING TARGET

North Edinburgh Arts has been awarded £250,000 from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund to support the Millan Hub project.

The announcement marks a significant step forward in NEA’s capital development journey, bringing the organisation closer to achieving their fundraising target: they have now reached 80% of their total goal.

Communites across the UK will benefit from over £50 million in funding to support community ownership of local assets.

North Edinburgh Arts was one of eight successful applicants in Scotland at this stage of the process. Another Edinburgh applicant was Portobello’s campaign to renovate their Town Hall. They receive £90,000.

This £250,000 awarded to NEA will be added to funds already secured for the ambitious build from Foundation Scotland, The Garfield Weston Trust, The William Syson Trust, The Robertson Trust, The Binks Foundation, and the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

Reaching four fifths of the target gives a real boost to NEA’s Board, team, participants, visitors, and volunteers alike.

A NEA spokesperson said: “We are grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from our local residents, with over 96% backing our mission to keep NEA at the heart of a creative, connected, inspired, and inspiring community.

“Your unwavering belief in our vision has been the driving force behind this achievement. Thank you for your ongoing support!”

NEA is a well-loved and well-used venue but we had outgrown our building. To meet the needs of current and future generatons of North Edinburgh residents it needed to be redeveloped.

As part of the new MacMillan Hub the NEA capital programme will:

 Increase the footprint of NEA by 380m2, adding two foors of studio and work/ space
 Extend the café to look/ into MacMillan Square, and ofer enhanced community facilites
 Provide bespok/e work/shop space for the ommunity Shed
 Reduce the carbon footprint through beter insulaton, lightng and environmental design and constructon
 Be a fully owned community asset.

With the build scheduled for completion early in 2024 NEA has set up a welcome cabin in front of the site to ensure local residents can find out more about the build, join up as NEA members (htps://northedinburgharts.co.uk//membership/) and share their aspiratons for the space.

The refurbished, redesigned and expanded venue will be a welcome space for all, ofering local residents high quality culture, arts, enterprise and meetng spaces. In additon, our venue will link, on site, to the city council’s new Library, new Learning and Skills Hub, new Early Years Centre and social housing.

Lesley Hinds, Chair of North Edinburgh Arts said: ‘North Edinburgh Arts is delighted to receive funding from Community Ownership Fund.

This funding from the Westminster Government shows the confidence they have in NEA and its future in the expanded facilities at MacMillan Hub.’

For more information, visit northedinburgharts.co.uk/development/

Sick Kids no more: Work starts on exclusive Royal Meadows housing development

A PREMIUM developer is to rejuvenate Edinburgh’s former Royal Hospital for Sick Children, by carefully restoring it into a range of high-quality homes.

Square & Crescent has kicked off construction at its Royal Meadows development which will see eight townhouses and 85 apartments carefully created both in and around the B Listed former hospital building and its surrounding streets.

The four-acre site sits directly opposite The Meadows, one of Edinburgh’s best-known landmarks, and lies between Sciennes Road and Rillbank Crescent.

Euan Marshall, Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director at Square & Crescent said: “To get to this stage of the process with Royal Meadows is a pinch-yourself moment for us at Square & Crescent.

“Most Edinburgh parents, at one time or another, have had to take a trip to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children so we are proud to have an opportunity to respect its history by carefully restoring the recognised building.

“We’re certain that with Royal Meadows, we are going to do this famous building justice by giving it a brand new purpose and offering up a wonderful place to live.”

Nestled in the heart of Marchmont and The Grange area of Edinburgh, the Royal Meadows site is well-connected – just one mile from Princes Street and a two-minute walk from Lothian Road.

With work now underway in what will be a three-year build process at Royal Meadows, the site’s sales suite is set to launch in late summer this year, with full completion targeted for the end of 2025.

Simon Cook, Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director said: “From early identification of the site, we knew it had all the makings of an incredible development that will preserve an important landmark in the city.

“To have spades in the ground at Royal Meadows is definitely a milestone moment and we can’t wait to watch the site grow and develop.”

Friends Euan Marshall and Simon Cook’s career paths crossed on a number of property projects around Edinburgh, with their complementing skillsets providing the perfect testbed to found Square & Crescent in 2013.

Square & Crescent is now a widely-regarded residential developer with a primary focus on the acquisition, development and refurbishment of beautiful homes.

It has built a strong track record and trusted reputation in providing some of the best residential conversion projects over the past 10 years, making a move in recent years into developing unique new build homes, providing exceptional and sustainable modern living in a variety of different locations within Edinburgh.

For more information on Royal Meadows, or to register interest, please email sales@squareandcrescent.com or phone 0131 225 2155.

Consultation launches for homes-led redevelopment of former Deutsche Bank offices at Crewe Toll

A public consultation for the homes-led redevelopment of one of Edinburgh city centre’s largest potential development sites is to be launched later this month.

Regeneration specialists Artisan Real Estate has formed a joint venture company with fund manager REInvest Asset Management to redevelop the former Deutsche Bank House at 525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, near the Crewe Toll roundabout.

The office and data-processing centre was formerly the Scottish base for State Street Bank until the building was vacated by the bank in 2018.

Over recent years the building has housed a number of charities including EVOC, SHE Scotland and People Know How.

Consultation for the site, to be known as 525 Park View, will begin with a drop-in public meeting on Saturday 28 October, at Fetlor Youth Club on Crewe Road South, between 12 noon and 4 pm.

The open session will allow members of the local community to meet the design team behind the proposed project, which includes Edinburgh-based 7N Architects.

Follow-up design workshops are also planned before the end of the year, with a full presentation of the final scheme, ahead of any planning submission, anticipated for early 2023.

A project website www.525parkview.co.uk has been set up to provide more details of the project proposals and the ongoing consultation process. All presentation boards will be published on the website within 48 hours of each event, with an opportunity to comment and feedback.

Welcoming the consultation launch, Artisan’s Regional Director for Scotland, David Westwater, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to create a long-term sustainable future for what is a predominantly redundant building and bringing a new community to an accessible city centre site.

“Our initial ideas will be guided by sustainability and low-carbon design and encompass a mix of development, led mainly by residential as well as much-needed affordable housing and ancillary commercial uses.”

Artisan Real Estate has a strong track record in delivering complex residential and mixed-use regeneration projects in sensitive city centre environments across the UK. This includes the award-winning “New Waverley” in Edinburgh’s Old Town and the current Rowanbank Gardens homes development to the west of the city, described as a ‘spectacular blueprint for low carbon living’.

REInvest Asset Management was founded in Luxembourg as a specialist for future-facing investment ideas and currently manages and develops properties across Europe with a value in excess of EUR 2.3 billion. 525 Park View is held in a progressive property fund within a pan-European portfolio managed on behalf of a German insurance group.

Thomas Merkes, Head of Asset Management at REInvest Asset Management added: “Our joint venture partnership with Artisan represents a major step forward in providing an innovative and collaborative mixed-use development solution to unlock the potential for this significant city centre site, which is set to create a genuinely transformational development in an accessible city centre location.

“We are looking forward to the launch of the consultation which will provide the perfect platform to show how we can make a positive contribution to the local area, bringing investment, life and excitement back to this important part of the Capital.”

For more information on Artisan Real Estate visit: www.artisanrealestate.co.uk.

For more information on REInvest Asset Management, visit: www.reinvest-am.lu/en

New tenants unveiled for Drum’s refurbished ‘Red Sandstone’ Building on Leith Walk

One of Edinburgh’s most famous streets is set to be significantly revitalised by an exciting range of independent retail businesses which are due to be opening their doors during the next few months.

Drum Property Group has unveiled a host of new tenants for its refurbished ‘Red Sandstone’ building which extends from 106 to 154 Leith Walk. Following a major redevelopment project the distinctive two-storey building, first completed in 1933 in the Scottish Art Deco style, now provides flexible space for up to 10 ground floor retail units, together with a range of open-plan first-floor business suites overlooking the foot of Leith Walk.

New retail tenants include Hobz Bakery, Cornelius Wines, vintage clothing store Rhinestone Cowboys, Chorrito Sauce Company and Design Eat Repeat, a design store and gallery space.

They join Leith Depot, an established bar, restaurant and music venue which has been based at the location since 2015 and has recently signed a new lease expanding the venue and extending its stay at the retail parade.

Known simply as ‘The Red Sandstone’, the building forms an iconic gateway to Drum’s £50 million transformation of the 2.9-acre Stead’s Place site, which will bring 148 new homes to the rear of the development linking Leith Walk to Pilrig Park and beyond.

Graeme Bone, Drum Group’s Managing Director, is excited by the widespread level of interest in the Red Sandstone – both in the retail units and in the office suites above. He said: “The Red Sandstone, as a distinctive entry point for our new development, will provide both a new focus and destination for the foot of Leith Walk.

“And with more tenant and business announcements to be made shortly, the eclectic mix of occupiers attracted to the building will bring something a little different to the city centre, continuing the rich tradition of diversity and independence which makes this area such an exciting destination in which to live, work and visit.”

Hobz, which means ‘bread’ in Maltese, was established in early 2021 by Matt Mallia, who began selling his bakery produce at the Leith Walk Police Box and at Leith Arches, and quickly established a devoted customer base.

Matt said: “I immediately felt welcomed to the Leith area, and quickly began looking for a ‘brick and mortar’ shop in Leith. The Red Sandstone soon emerged as the top contender in my search for a permanent home for Hobz and we’re so glad to be able to launch in an area with so many other artisan producers.”

James Wrobel, owner of Cornelius Beer and Wine added: “For almost two decades, Cornelius gained a reputation as one of Edinburgh’s very best off-licenses, with a very wide range of drinks that manage to be both affordable and slightly outside the mainstream.

“We are very excited to now be opening on Leith Walk, one of Edinburgh’s most historic and important thoroughfares, with both a thriving local community and a lot of commuter traffic.”

Leith Depot has been based in the Red Sandstone since 2015 and is now set to be expanded and improved as part of the building’s refurbishment. Owner Julie Carty said: “Everyone at Leith Depot is looking forward to an exciting and prosperous future for all who will reside in the Red Sandstone Building at Steads Place.”

The Chorrito Sauce company specialises in producing small-batch, handmade hot sauces in a range of exotic flavours – including Chipotle, pineapple and garlic and Carolina Reaper honey and Bourbon. Design Eat Repeat is an ever-changing space celebrating creativity with a shop that showcases leading independent British design brands, together with gallery space for emerging designers.

For more information on The Red Sandstone and its mix of retail and office spaces, visit: www.theredsandstone.com or contact office agents Culverwell on 0131 243 9617.

For more information on Drum Property Group’s Stead’s Place site, visit: www.steads-place.com

Council lied to justify destructive development, claim Silverlea campaigners

Community campaigners fighting to save the Silverlea woodland, wildlife and heritage site from a housing development have condemned as “Council lies” the claim that the site is a “barren” flytipping site of “low landscape value and low recreational value with few quality trees”.

A meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council development sub-committee on 10 August flouted the Council’s own policy by approving the building of 142 houses on the green belt in the Muirhouse and the Salvesens area in north-west Edinburgh.

The Save Our Silverlea Campaign describe a photo of the site produced by the Council to justify the development as “totally misleading”.

A SoS spokesperson said: “The photo showed a big pile of flytipped waste – but when a team from Save Our Silverlea visited the site days after the Council meeting, all we found was one white plastic bag and a dumped shopping trolley. The Council photo was either very old or taken elsewhere. Councillors visited the site shortly before the meeting so they should have known the photo was ‘fake news’.”

Save Our Silverlea have produced photos of the site showing massive trees and a verdant and vibrant woodland.

30-40 mature trees are to be felled to make way for the proposed scheme.

“We defy anyone – even a Councillor – to look at these magnificent trees and say this is a “barren” flytipping site. Clearly there has been some flytipping over the years – but if the site was sympathetically opened up to the community as a mini nature reserve with low impact paths and perhaps a children’s play area, then this increased footfall would act as a deterrent to flytipping.

“The Council is effectively “saving” the site by destroying it.”

Freedom of Information request

The camapigners say the city council tried to justify the destruction of dozens of mature trees by claiming they were planting 131 saplings on the narrow strip of grass known as Silverknows Park.

At the Council meeting Save Our Silverlea spokesperson Edward Murray described the real situation: “My flat overlooks Silverknowes Park and I watched them planting these saplings out in mid-February on a bitter cold day with the ground waterlogged,” he explained.

“The end result is the vast majority of these saplings never took root. They’re dead. Are we then to exchange 30-40 mature trees for row upon row of dead twigs in plastic tubes? That doesn’t strike us as a fair exchange.”

On 16 August Save Our Silverlea submitted a Freedom of Information request asking how much the Silverknowes Park Tree Plantation cost.

At the Council meeting Edward Murray described Muirhouse, where he has lived for over 30 years, as “just a dormitory for workers to sleep in before going back to work again”.

Mr Murray added: “Muirhouse is the size of a small town; it has no primary school, no park, not even a pub. It doesn’t even have a supermarket. In short, it is a deprived area. We have nothing down there. It’s one of the most deprived areas in Edinburgh.

“And now, having taken practically everything, you want to take our last green space, the Silverlea site, for development, destroying a wildlife habitat and creating congestion and pollution along the Silverknowes/Muirhouse Parkway, described by Police Scotland as ‘the second most dangerous road in Edinburgh’.”

Save our Silverlea are continuing their campaign: “As climate change threatens the future of humanity, we need to act to defend our green spaces. This land should be used for the local community – not to make £millions for greedy property developers.

“We need much more council/ social housing – build council houses on the brownfield sites where they are now building 1000s of private houses. The struggle to save our Silverlea continues.”

ELGT839_PL1_rev01-Silverknowes-Park-Planting Download

Dundas Street plans ‘unacceptable on many fronts’

The developers of the RBS site on Dundas Street, Ediston, wish to construct a (temporary) 4-/5-storey office accommodation block on Dundas Street while post-demolition redevelopment onto scores of flats etc. takes place.

Fettes Row & Royal Crescent Association, the local residents’ group, is objecting strongly (see letter to Ediston, below) and so is New Town & Broughton Community Council.

The block would encroach upon the street and be permanently lit with an “underpass” for pedestrians … a bit like George IV Bridge outside the hotel but probably bigger.

David Gow,

Fettes Row & Royal Crescent Association acting secretary

The letter reads:

Having considered your plans, we would say the plans are unacceptable on many fronts:

They amount to unnecessary and extensive street clutter. The process of planning this project should surely have planned adequate accommodation for the duration of the project. If this is not the case, the failure will amount to further inconvenience, disruption, pollution and loss of amenity for local residents over and above that already being endured by local businesses and residents.

Despite your point that the ‘tunnel’ underneath the proposed accommodation will be lit and provide adequate space to pass through, it will still amount to a significant obstruction to the passage of pedestrians and traffic, possibly resulting in pedestrians having to walk on the roadway at very busy times.

The obstruction in this location will cause a sclerosis of traffic on a very busy thoroughfare. Dundas St. is a route for public and tourist buses, delivery lorries and, critically, ambulances and fire engines. The current tunnel walkway on George IV bridge, similar to that you propose, is partially dark at night, and does not feel safe or comfortable for pedestrians at night-time;

The presence of the accommodation will result in a prolonged loss of parking spaces in front of the site. This will further congest the limited parking available to residents and business in the area;

Why is this project unable to accommodate its workers on site when other huge developments locally (eg the St. James Centre) have managed to execute their works without intruding further on local surroundings?

There are areas (admittedly limited) which are planned to be open areas in the completed project. Why can these not be used to house the accommodation? Furthermore, why can’t the project’s use of Centrum House continue in effect as accommodation for contractors?

The site development will be phased and accommodation could, and should be moved within the site, as phases progress.

You say the local residents will benefit from the location of the accommodation on Dundas St. Frankly any benefit residents would receive, and that would be questionable, would be at the margins, given the wholesale long term disruption to life and amenity this project is already causing by its execution.

The only beneficiary of the proposal we can see, in fact, is the developer who will save costs which might or might not have been incurred by inadequate planning. In any event, we can see no benefit which would go any where near compensating residents for the inconvenience this plan would cause.

Yours sincerely,

Judith Symes,

Acting chair, for and on behalf of the Fettes Row and Royal Crescent Association

Winchburgh: Daisy Park plans submitted for planning approval

A formal planning application has now been submitted to West Lothian Council to create a major new park on the site of the historic Winchburgh Brickworks.

Daisy Park, which is part of the approved masterplan for Winchburgh, sits adjacent to the Union Canal and the new marina in the heart of the Winchburgh community.

The designs for Daisy Park have been heavily influenced by the local community. They respect and reflect the historic brickworks as well as retaining major areas of biodiversity. The park will also include a wild learning garden and viewing points across to the Forth bridges.

Daisy Park will become a central meeting place for and provide connections across the whole of the community by footpaths and cycle paths. Connecting directly onto the Union Canal, it can be easily used as a stop-off for those cycling the wider canal network.

John Hamilton, Chief Executive, Winchburgh Developments Ltd, commented: “This isn’t just another new park for the community. Its design has been significantly influenced by the community too.

“The plans have been subject to extensive consultation and the proposals that are going in for approval reflect the feedback that we had from many Winchburgh residents.

Some of the locals still remember the brickworks when it was operational and we know many of them are looking forward to seeing the old industrial site take on a new lease of life.”

The planning application can be viewed by searching for ‘daisy’ on the West Lothian Council planning portal. The extensive public consultation report detailing the full engagement and feedback activities are part of the submission.

As part of the plans, Winchburgh will welcome adventure waterpark operators, Wild Shore, to the site.

Wild Shore – which already operates in Dundee, Delamere (Cheshire), Liverpool and New Brighton – is set to develop a new facility within the park and create a major water-based visitor attraction. The people behind Wild Shore also operate Foxlake Adventures in East Lothian.

The park will become home to award-winning water adventure activities including cable wakeboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming and for the first time in Scotland – their unique floating ropes course over water – Aqua Chimp. The facilities will also include changing rooms and a café.

Callum Mark, Director, Wild Shore, said: “‘We are delighted that the planning application has been submitted. The community consultation has been an invaluable exercise in gaining a unique insight into the village’s history, exciting future and the strong community driving expansion and change.

“We have been blown away by the support the project has received and can’t wait to start working with local schools, youth groups, voluntary organisations and the wider community to create a truly special facility for Winchburgh and beyond.”

Wild Shore Winchburgh will manage the quarry water under a 30-year agreement with Winchburgh Developments. It will be easily accessible within one hour for more than half of the Scottish population, especially with new junction connecting local roads with the M9 expected to be completed early next year. 

Spanning 352 hectares, Winchburgh is one of the largest placemaking projects currently underway in the UK delivering at least 3,800 homes, improved transport links, employment opportunities, schools and outdoor spaces.

Any enquiries should be directed to Penny Lochhead, Community, Sports and Greenspace Manager on 07802 500991 or penny@winchburghdevelopments.com. 

Callum Mark, Director, Wild Shore Winchburgh, 07507 331535 callum@wildshore.co.uk

Planning application:

https://planning.westlothian.gov.uk/publicaccess/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=RFEYCYRJH4I00

The full design boards from the consultation can be seen at www.winchburghgreenspaces.co.uk

The artist impressions are courtesy of Optimised Environments Ltd (OPEN).