Tag: redevelopment

Council green light for Drum’s Stead’s Place redevelopment

Drum Property Group’s vision for the long-awaited redevelopment of a key development site on Leith Walk is to become a reality following the granting of planning consent. 

Drum’s ambitious proposals for Stead’s Place, near the foot of Leith Walk, were approved by the City of Edinburgh Council today, heralding a major regeneration of the 2.9-acre site and bringing much-needed investment and interest to this important part of the city centre.   

The Stead’s Place site has been earmarked for development by the Council since 2008 and consists largely of an aged industrial estate and office space, together with a two-storey sandstone building facing directly on to Leith Walk. 

Drum will now replace the existing industrial units with 148 high-quality apartments, including 38 affordable homes, as part of an attractive landscaped residential scheme linking to Pilrig Park and beyond.

The sandstone building will be retained and refurbished and made available for commercial occupation, providing a vibrant local retail and business frontage onto Leith Walk.

The planning consent is the culmination of four years of research, planning and local community engagement by Drum since the company first purchased the site in 2017.

The current proposal follows a comprehensive six-month consultation programme with the local residential and business community, with almost three-quarters of those consulted either supportive or neutral about the revised plans.  

Welcoming the planning approval, Graeme Bone, Group Managing Director of Drum said: “Drum has worked hard to ensure our current proposals are aligned with the objectives and plans of local community groups.  

“We listened carefully to their views, enabling us to draw on the positive characteristics of the surrounding area to create a real sense of place that features a mix of private and affordable housing with a refurbished, vibrant and dynamic retail frontage facing Leith Walk. 

“Our proposals will replace old and tired industrial, office and retail space with new, more flexible, higher quality accommodation for people to live, work, shop, eat, drink and to be entertained in – as well as opening up a safe and landscaped thoroughfare connecting Leith Walk to Pilrig Park. 

“We believe we have responded directly to the objectives and vision the community has for the site. Our proposals now offer the optimum solution for all parties, providing a refurbished retail and office parade combined with a new community of housing to the rear, set in landscaped grounds, enhancing the area’s distinctive cultural feel and identity.” 

Drum is now committed to ensuring the shop frontages on to Leith Walk retain the current individual style and size, reflecting and supporting the current local small trader units at the site whilst refurbishing the office suites for rent on the first floor in a revamped business centre offering.  

Mr Bone added: “By retaining and refurbishing the red sandstone buildings facing on to Leith Walk, we are also contributing to the wider regeneration of the local area, providing investment to create an attractive and distinctive destination and focal point which is needed now, more than ever, as the local area recovers from lockdown and the new tram works are progressed. 

“Drum are now looking forward to building on the positive and productive relationships established over recent years to deliver a new development that continues the rich tradition of diversity, independence and interest which makes Leith Walk such an exciting destination in which to live, work and visit.” 

The planning consent follows a previous application submitted by Drum to the City of Edinburgh in 2018. 

Stead’s Place Development Timeline: 

2008 The 2.9-acre Stead’s Place site is first earmarked for development by the City of Edinburgh Council and becomes one of the city’s most prominent gap sites. 
Spring 2017 Drum Property Group purchases the site. 
Spring 2018 Drum launches a comprehensive consultation programme – including five days of public exhibitions and setting up a community liaison group 
August 2018 Drum submits a planning application to the City of Edinburgh Council for a £50 million mixed-use development plan comprising homes, student accommodation and a hotel – plus a row of retail and restaurant/café outlets overlooking Leith Walk replacing the original sandstone building. 
Nov 2018 Revised proposals are submitted reducing the Leith Walk elevation by one storey to keep the building in line with surrounding tenements. The revised proposals also include a more defined and distinct row for the sandstone retail units as well as increased provision for cyclists and pedestrians. The proposals receive more than 700 letters of public support. 
Jan 23  2019 The City of Edinburgh Council planning officers recommend approval for Drum’s revised planning application. 
Jan 30  2019 Despite the council planning officers recommending approval, Drum’s planning application is refused by the City of Edinburgh Council’s planning committee. 
May 2019 Drum lodges an appeal with the Scottish Government challenging the council’s decision not to grant planning approval for the revised planning application. 
Dec 2019 The Scottish Government Reporter decides not to uphold Drum’s appeal challenging the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to refuse planning approval for the Stead’s Place development. 
April 2020 Drum launches a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) which retains the original sandstone building overlooking Leith Walk, which will be refurbished and made available for a range of commercial uses. The existing industrial units located behind Leith Walk are to be demolished and replaced with a new residential-led landscaped development linking to Pilrig Park and beyond. 
July 2020 Drum launches an online consultation programme in line with Scottish Government advice following the restrictions in public movement imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. 
Nov 2020  Following extensive feedback from the first online event, Drum launches a second online consultation event in advance of a planning application being submitted. 
Dec 14 2020 Drum submits a revised planning application to the City of Edinburgh Council following consultation feedback showing more than 80% of consultees wanted to see the site developed 
June 2021 The City of Edinburgh Council grants planning consent for Drum’s revised proposals. 

Thanks from Save Iona Street campaigners

A huge thank you again to everyone who submitted a comment on the 48-50 Iona Street planning application back in May.

As a result, the developer has made some changes to the proposal. While some of these changes are welcome, many aspects of the development remain unchanged, such as building height, density, student accommodation.

**MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN COMMENT ON THE AMENDMENTS TO THE APPLICATION UNTIL FRIDAY 14 AUGUST**

Any previous comments and objections are still valid on aspects of the development that are unchanged.

As before, Save Iona street will be pulling together some notes to help those who wish to comment on the these amendments.

Visit saveionastreet.wordpress.com or email saveionastreet@outlook.com for more info.

Waterfront development: green light for ‘Western villages’

450 affordable homes set for waterfront as construction restarts

The first phase of housing for the latest development of Granton Waterfront was given the go ahead by councillors this week.

Granton Waterfront regeneration is expected to lead the way in sustainable development as part of Edinburgh’s commitment to be net zero carbon by 2030.

A £1.5m contract will now be awarded to CCG (Scotland) Ltd to take forward designs for planning approval for an affordable housing development to include around 450 high quality homes, following agreement by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Policy and Sustainability Committee yesterday.

Over the coming months the Council will be engaging with the community to develop the designs for the detailed planning application.

As part of this early programme of works for Granton Waterfront,  the Council is planning to refurbish the Granton Station building, an Edwardian former railway station, into a modern business space and is exploring the potential to light the area’s former gasholder in a joint project with Edinburgh College, turning the latter into a focal point for the city.

The wider proposals will create one of Europe’ s largest coastal city parks linking Granton Harbour to Cramond and Lauriston Castle, reconnecting the city with its waterfront and providing the opportunity for residents and visitors to enjoy spectacular views across the Forth while experiencing enhanced leisure and outdoor activity.

The plan is also set to deliver on exemplar urban design centred around climate resilience, leading the way in future sustainable development and growing the economy in an inclusive way.

The proposals will bring around 3,500 new homes of which at least 35% will be affordable, a school, medical centre, creative and commercial space, new cycling and walking routes and enhanced sustainable transport connections with the city, making a significant contribution to Edinburgh’s target to become a net zero carbon city by 2030.

With an overall gross development value of around £1.3bn, the Council is committed to investing around £196m to accelerate the regeneration, attracting significant public and private sector funding to deliver the vision.

Council Leader Adam McVey, said: “As we start the recovery from this pandemic this development is a fantastic start to building the homes our residents need.

“Our waterfront development significantly contributes towards our shared goal of a better and more sustainable Edinburgh together so it’s great news that the first phase of this vibrant new neighbourhood for Edinburgh is now going ahead.

“We’re absolutely committed to reaching our target to build 20,000 affordable homes in the city as well as investing £2bn in new Council homes over the next decade. We’re also committed to becoming a net zero carbon city by 2030 and Granton Waterfront will contribute greatly to all of these goals.

Depute Council Leader Cammy Day, said: “The award of these contracts is a welcome message for the north Edinburgh community and the construction industry.

“The first phase of housing will provide hundreds of affordable homes and going forward the regeneration of this area will create hundreds of new jobs linked to growth of new services, business, leisure and creative industries and will strengthen the retail and small businesses that already exist.

“This is only just the start of this exciting development for the city and I look forward to seeing the plans brought forward by CCG for what will become one of Scotland’s leading sustainable communities.

Calum Murray, Director, CCG (Scotland) Ltd, said: “The City of Edinburgh Council is to be congratulated for the support it has afforded the construction sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“By progressing with the Western Villages project they are helping to build essential economic resilience and mitigate the worst effects of the pandemic for key stakeholders and the supply chain.

“In so doing the City is also sustaining the delivery of necessary affordable housing which will deliver on its low-carbon objectives. CCG(Scotland)Ltd is delighted to be in the vanguard of this significant regeneration initiative.”

Green light for Canongate office development

A planning application for the development of high-quality office accommodation by property developer Summix Capital was granted by the city council’s Development Management Sub-Committee on Wednesday.

Located at 179 Canongate, Edinburgh, the proposals will introduce a ‘characterful’ office development and offer much-needed workspace within the heart of the capital’s Old Town.

Edinburgh’s growing popularity as a tourist destination has created a shortfall of office space in the city in recent years. Reinforcing this, research from Savills Estate Agents has shown that in the capital a shortage of quality office stock contributed to city centre take-up falling to 380,000 sq ft in 2019, lower than the preceding two years.

The approved plans will provide easy to access office space and support the growth of office space in the capital.

The building also boasts strong sustainability credentials, including dedicated on-site cycling provision and facilities for greener commuting. Additionally, the site has the potential for a publicly accessible café to animate the existing courtyard to Old Tolbooth Wynd, enhancing occupants and visitors experience of the building.

There will be four floors designed for small and medium businesses with the provision for coworking. Each floor will have 5,000 sq. ft with accessible break out spaces on the top two floors. Coworking spaces provide a more flexible, accessible and affordable option for SME businesses and freelancers with an open environment which cultivates a positive and collaborative working environment.

Incorporating the wider UNESCO World Heritage Site and the A-listed structures of the Canongate Kirk and Canongate Tolbooth, the proposals will retain boundary walls, existing workshop structures and remaining historical artefacts on site.

Architects 3DReid worked on the scheme, and the planning consultants were Turley.

Stuart Black, Development Director at Summix Capital, said: “We’re thrilled our application has been approved. These proposals will redevelop a vital location in the heart of the capital and help to tackle Edinburgh’s shortage of available office space provision.

“As a coworking space, our development will offer an innovative and competitive solution while ensuring its green credentials are in line with the City of Edinburgh Council standards.

“The plans represent the conclusion of a collaborative discussion about how best to make this site work. Summix Capital consulted widely with stakeholders and the community to ensure this site represented the kind of forwarded momentum the city-centre needs.

“We welcome today’s vote, and Summix Capital is thrilled to offer a new lease of life to the Canongate.”

Meadowbank Masterplan submitted

The Masterplan for the Meadowbank redevelopment has been lodged. Surrounding the city’s new state of the art Meadowbank sports centre, the council says the development has been designed in collaboration with members of the local community.

This approach has involved a substantial programme of public engagement since June 2018, including 15 events and workshops and 680 consulation responses. Together with an independently chaired Meadowbank Sounding Board, which has met six times, this has enabled local residents, community representatives, elected members and Council officers to work in partnership to shape the plans.

The Masterplan which has now been submitted features proposals for a low car, sustainable development which pays tribute to the site’s sporting and industrial heritage. It prioritises pedestrian and active travel through its network of paths and roads.

The plans have been designed to protect rare Wheatley Elms in the area and they incorporate a number of play and park spaces, a rain garden and plans to plant more trees.

Around 600 modern low carbon energy-efficient homes are proposed in the development plan, with a minimum of 35% affordable homes. The plans also include space for a GP surgery and other community facilities.

The Masterplan for Meadowbank is is likely to be considered by members of the Development Management Sub Committee this summer. It’s one of the major developments planned as part of the Council’s citywide placemaking programme, which also involves the regeneration of Fountainbridge, Pennywell, Granton, Craigmillar and Leith.

Councillor Kate Campbell, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “A huge amount of work has gone into producing this Masterplan for Meadowbank. We’ve been listening to the local community throughout the process and I’d like to thank everyone for helping to shape these designs. I’m confident this plan reflects their priorities and needs.

“We’re proposing that over a third of the homes we build at Meadowbank will be affordable – with most of those for social rent. To support our ambition to be a carbon neutral city by 2030, we’re also going to create great public spaces for children to play and people to meet, walk and cycle through. We’re prioritising people over cars and keeping parking to a minimum as well as building high quality energy efficient homes.”

Further details on the plans are available

at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/meadowbank 

and a model of the proposals can be viewed at Piershill library.

The construction of the new Meadowbank Sports Centre is currently well underway with handover of the new building to Edinburgh Leisure expected in the Autumn.

Lottery support for King’s Theatre redevelopment

Capital Theatres, Scotland’s largest independent theatre charity, has announced its success in securing an award of £174,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) towards costs of the development phase in the major redevelopment of the King’s Theatre Edinburgh. Continue reading Lottery support for King’s Theatre redevelopment

Green light for Botanics plans

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) has won the backing of city councillors to proceed with an ambitious £70m initiative to safeguard Scotland’s priceless national plant collections and future proof its status as a world-leading centre for plant science, education, horticulture and conservation.

State-of-the-art facilities will underpin the Garden’s core activities, while the visitor experience will be greatly enhanced through the refurbishment and extension of the popular public Glasshouses. Continue reading Green light for Botanics plans

People Know How heading back east as Meadowbank welcomes (?) student housing

An application for planning permission for the development of high-quality student accommodation on London Road was the city council’s planning committee yesterday. Continue reading People Know How heading back east as Meadowbank welcomes (?) student housing