£200 million plans revealed for Edinburgh brewery site

11 Feb 2005

Plans to redevelop Edinburgh’s former Scottish & Newcastle brewery in Fountainbridge have been submitted to the Council by developers Fountain North Ltd. The masterplan, by architects Oberlanders, has taken almost a year to complete, and consists of office space, 650 new homes, retail outlets and a new public park. Also planned are tree-lined boulevards, accessible green spaces, pedestrian and cycle routes, and underground car parking for 650 vehicles.

The masterplan closely follows the framework recommended by the Council’s Development Brief for the Fountainbridge area, published in November last year.
The new plans should link the Bruntsfield and Viewforth areas in the south with the transport hub of Haymarket to the north. The two wide tree-lined boulevards, one with restricted vehicle access, will cut through the development from north to south taking traffic away from the residential areas, and creating two new junctions on the Western Approach Road.

Office developments will provide a visible frontage on to Fountainbridge and the West Approach Road, which will also incorporate retail outlets and showrooms on to street level. There will be a broad mix of homes, ranging from affordable and social housing to town houses, city-style apartments and penthouses. Homes will be built around open courtyards and along landscaped avenues, with vehicle access being kept to a minimum.

Following the submission of the planning application, Fountain North Ltd will front a major consultation exercise with the local community to continue their involvement with the regeneration of the area. Depending on planning approvals, work is expected to start on site by the beginning of 2006.

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