[Kenspeckle]

Craigmillar Regeneration
Craigmillar | Urban renewal programme

Link: official website

Project cost: £200 million

3,200 homes
Redeveloped town centre
28,000 sq m of office, leisure and retail space
2 new primary schools
Public library
£30 million community high school
150 acres parkland

Status: Under construction

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Site prior to regeneration

The White House after restoration by Smith Scott Mullan Architects

New Neighbourhood Centre and Library

Niddrie Mill & St Francis Primary Schools by Elder and Cannon Architects

New Housing

Proposed Town Centre

 

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Multi-million pound plan to transform Craigmillar

Edinburgh Evening News - 28th March, 2014

The new vision of the long-awaited multi-million pound transformation of Craigmillar has been revealed to the public.

The designs show the masterplan for the new high school, civic square, shopping centre and 300 homes earmarked for the 50 acre site.

The “new heart” for the community is part of a new urban regeneration plan ordered in 2012 in an attempt to kick-start interest in the area.

Updated designs went on show at The White House – itself a symbol of the area’s ongoing regeneration in the face of recession and a site overhauled by the same publicly-owned development company, Parc.

The landmark 1930s art-deco building is now home to a high-quality coffee shop, with a chef offering healthy food options, as well as function rooms, office space and meeting rooms available to groups and individuals.

City economy convener Councillor Frank Ross said the development will provide a much-welcome boost for the area.

He said: “As the Capital coalition, we have always prioritised job creation, coupled with the delivery of quality housing for those who work in the city.

“Projects like the redevelopment of Craigmillar’s town centre not only seek to deliver these, but also seek to build on the sense of community so vital to the sustainability of Edinburgh’s neighbourhoods”.

Planning chiefs have previously admitted that attempts to transform the district are running about four years behind schedule and that a new vision was needed to attract private investment.

It is hoped the new retail space will bring jobs to the area and revitalise the centre of Craigmillar. Existing shop fronts will be improved, new footpaths created and more than 250 trees will be planted.

The new centre has been based on the character of traditional Scottish towns like Biggar and Moffat in the hope it will become a focal point for the community. New flats and colony-style housing are planned in addition to new streets to improve pedestrian and cyclist routes between residential and retail areas.

Central to the regeneration plans will be the building of a new state-of-the-art community high school – to be completed by 2020 – to replace the existing Castlebrae High.

Norrie Davis, the community representative on Parc’s board, said the proposals were encouraging but more public involvement was needed for what should be done with the space in the meantime.

He said: “These plans represent a considerable improvement to Craigmillar’s main shopping area on Niddrie Mains Road.

“As a community, we’re excited about the next phase of the development.

“Something else PARC is keen to get feedback from locals on are the potential temporary uses of the various sites before the land is redeveloped and how can we make best use of that land, to the benefit of the community.”

 

[Moschops]

Some aerial views from RCAHMS

Site before clearance (towards the top of this image)

Later images

More recent

And just because it amuses me, here's some giant's footprints going down Wauchope Avenue from google (they're not there in the more recent 45 degrees aerial views, but are on the older satellite view image.

 

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Big Lottery awards £300,000 to two Edinburgh projects

Edinburgh Reporter - 8th April, 2014

The Big Lottery Fund has announced over £10m of funding for projects across Scotland to improve community spaces. From a plot which will become a community garden in Auchinleck to a 40 acre community woodland in Peterhead the list is both impressive and imaginative.

Edinburgh has not been missed out from the funding announced today. Two projects will benefit from the money handed out for good causes.

The Crags Community Sports Centre is to receive £61,633 from the Big Lottery Fund for a project which will improve the facilities surrounding, and access to, the sports centre, benefitting over 500 local children, young people and residents.

The group will install a traverse wall, create a bicycle storage space, open a community garden and carry out improvements to an access path leading to the centre. The centre provides a range of fitness classes and activities for local residents as well as a meeting space for local groups. You can find out about them here.

But the big winner from today’s announcement of funding is Craigmillar Community Arts who will receive £211,768 for a project to carry out major refurbishment of their arts centre in a Grade B listed former church which has poor heating, ventilation and access issues. It is estimated that 7000 people will benefit from the refurbishment which includes the installation of a mezzanine floor, improved access to the basement with increased storage, installation of a stage, and improved kitchen and heating.

Announcing the funding, totalling £10,365,287, Big Lottery Fund, Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “Our Community Spaces programme allows local people to get together and shape their neighbourhood by making better use of outdoor and indoor spaces. Today’s investment allows for the development, improvement and creation of village halls, community gardens, art centres, sports and play facilities. For some areas, the refurbishment of a village hall will create a welcoming centre which can support a range of activities. For others, the transformation of a disused space offers a secure recreational place for everyone to enjoy.”

 

[Kenspeckle]

14/01696/PAN | Craigmillar Town Centre: mixed use development including retail (class 1), financial, professional and other services (class 2); food and drink (class 3), business and employment (class 4); residential institutions (class 8), residential (class 9); assembly and leisure (class 11), sui generis flatted development and other associated works including car parking, public realm access arrangements and works in general. | Development Site At Niddrie Mains Road Edinburgh

• A regenerated town centre, to be strengthened as a retail-led destination to serve Craigmillar as a whole
• The replacement of Castlebrae High School to provide a civic focus
• Major areas of new housing with a mixture of flats and colony homes
• Land allocated for economic development, and
• New areas of public space, including a new town square and other associated public realm improvements.

 

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Residential conversion of school and new build - approx 65 homes.

14/01820/FUL | Residential development of new build flatted properties and housing at site of the former Niddrie Mill Primary School and conversion of the Primary School Building to flatted properties. | Niddrie Mill Primary School 267 Niddrie Mains Road Edinburgh EH15 3HG

 

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Largest Passivhaus project in Scotland goes in for planning

Urban Realm - 4th July, 2014

Craigmillar Eco Housing Co-operative has submitted plans for the construction of ten Passivhaus homes at Greendykes Road, Edinburgh.

Designed by John Gilbert Architects to consume 90 per cent less energy than traditionally constructed homes the scheme is said to be the largest new build Passivhaus project in Scotland.

John Gilbert director Matt Bridgestock said: “We hope this model can inspire others and be rolled out across Scotland.”

Supported by the City of Edinburgh Council and PARC Craigmilar the project is based on a self-build and co-operative structure and will be completed by Christmas 2015.

David Narro Associates have been appointed as engineer for the build with Assemble CSB serving as project manager.

 

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£200m Craigmillar project to start next year

Edinburgh Evening News - 28th August, 2014

Work on the long-awaited multi-million-pound transformation of Craigmillar is set to begin next year.

Blueprints for the delayed £200 million project to revive the town centre were submitted to planning chiefs this week.

The £60m first stage will see the building of more than 300 homes and a shopping centre. The 50-acre site will also have a restaurant, a supermarket and a petrol station.

Community leaders have hailed the plans, which will see 400 jobs created in the area.

Carol Clydesdale, secretary of Craigmillar Community Council, said: “The town centre planning application is long overdue progress in the regeneration of Craigmillar.

“Hopefully, the new homes will attract more people into the area and, along with the high school, will bring more families into the area.”

Parc, which is spearheading the regeneration project, stressed that discussions with retailers and developers were at an “advanced stage”, but was unable to reveal further details because of a confidentiality agreement.

Mark Harris, senior development manager at Parc, said: “These plans will see a hugely revitalised town centre at Craigmillar, providing residents a bolstered retail offering, and civic and green space for local residents and families to enjoy.

“One of Parc’s chief aims is to offer quality, affordable housing. I’m thrilled to say that these plans, designed to the highest architectural standards, will help us achieve that aim.”

Several firms are in contention for the contract to build the 300-plus homes.

A Parc spokeswoman said: “We are looking to build on this momentum and are in discussion with a number of major housebuilders on the residential development.”

An outdoor market is among the options for civic space, while central to the regeneration plans will be the building of a community school – to be completed by 2020 – to replace the existing Castlebrae High. Plans for the new secondary school will be brought forward as a separate application later.

The “new heart” for the community is part of a new urban regeneration plan ordered in 2012 in an attempt to kick-start interest in the area.

Planning chiefs have previously admitted that moves to transform the district are running about four years behind schedule and that a new vision was needed to attract private investment.

Councillor Frank Ross, the city’s economy chief and chairman of Parc, said: “As the Capital coalition, we identified a number of sites – either brownfield or gap sites, or those in which development would be key to regeneration of a particular area of the city.

“This is such a site, and would be the latest phase of an investment totalling £200m to the area.

“These plans include over 300 new homes and will also bring almost 400 much-needed jobs to the area.”

 

[Kenspeckle]

PPP for the new Craigmillar Town Centre, from Anderson Bell Christie Architects.

14/03416/PPP | Mixed use development inc. retail (class 1); financial, professional + other services (class 2); food + drink (class 3); business + employment (class 4); residential institutions (class 8); residential (class 9); assembly + leisure (class 11); sui generis flatted development + other associated works including car parking, public realm, access arrangements + works in general | Development Site At Niddrie Mains Road Edinburgh

 

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Parc submit revised Craigmillar master plan

Urban Realm - 30th September, 2014

Parc Craigmillar has submitted an application for planning in principle for Craigmillar town centre, revising a 2008 master plan which called for delivery of a supermarket, public square, homes and restaurants.

Master planned by Anderson Bell + Christie, alongside landscape architect HarrisonStevens and Arup engineers, this would build on existing work in the area by creating a commercial corridor along the south side of Niddrie Mains Road.

Proposed changes include downsizing the food store and better integrating it with its surroundings together with a shift away from flatted accommodation toward a broader mix of housing types.

Parc also acknowledge that a new train station is ‘very unlikely’ to be delivered in the near future and a central high school campus which ‘no longer meets current requirements’.

As such delivery of the civic space, foodstore, independent retail and a family restaurant will be fast tracked for early delivery, whilst other master plan ambitions are placed on the back burner.

In their design statement Andersin Bell + Christie said: “PARC wish to take forward those parts of the Masterplan that can be delivered early to continue to regenerate and reinvigorate the Town Centre as a whole.

“This PPP application therefore constitutes such first stage developments within the updated masterplan. They complement the existing town centre and create destinations that are well placed for local residents, and which are conveniently accessible by foot and public transport.”

A residential component drawing ‘contemporary inspiration’ from older Edinburgh house types; such as tenements, colony homes, terraced houses and town houses, is also in the works.

 

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New Craigmillar housing u/c. Pic from twitter feed of project architects, Smith Scott Mullan.

 

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Run-down building in Edinburgh to be given a new lease of life

Scottish Construction Now! - 19th November, 2014

The neglected Castlebrae Business Centre in Craigmillar, Edinburgh is set to undergo a complete renovation.

The Cat B listed building is currently only 50 per cent occupied and due to the level of damage, 40 per cent of the office block is incapable of use.

This is set to change, however, as GHI has been awarded the contract to refurbish the former school, by the City of Edinburgh Council, updating the art-deco style building to provide high quality office space. The project is expected to have a positive impact on the local community, attracting new office tenants, and in turn benefitting local shops and other businesses.

GHI will start the £2.4m transformation in January 2015, involving the removal of asbestos, replacement windows, render and roughcast repairs, internal and external decoration, upgrade of the electrical, water and central heating systems, replacement toilets and installation of new lifts. The centre is due to be complete in November 2015.

Under our Framework agreement with the City of Edinburgh Council, GHI has also been awarded the £385k project for the fit-out of Oxgangs Daycare Centre, at Firrhill Neuk. The works comprise the fit-out of an existing shell unit for use as a dementia daycare centre.

 

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Craigmillar regeneration firm makes £1.3m loss

Edinburgh Evening News - 20th February, 2015

A company set up to lead the regeneration of Craigmillar has made a massive financial loss after failing to attract developers to take part in key projects.

Accounts for Parc Craigmillar Limited show a loss of £1,341,000 for the year to December, when the company had budgeted for a £475,000 profit.

A confidential report to the Parc board at the end of January, passed to the Evening News, said the loss was due to a land sale for residential development as part of the town centre project which “couldn’t be achieved” and fees incurred in previous years which had to be written off.

Parc was set up by the city council and its arms-length development company EDI to oversee the regeneration of Craigmillar.

Vast swathes of land at Niddrie Mains and Greendykes were transferred to its ownership and it has also received millions of pounds in Scottish Government funding.

But community councillor Paul Nolan claimed only around one-third of the planned redevelopment of the area had taken place – and there had been too many flats and not enough family houses.

He said the idea of a market-led regeneration had been “absurd” and had now failed.

He said: “It’s been a ten-year bonanza for expensive consultants and developers.”

Mr Nolan said an example of Parc’s extravagance was its sales office built four years ago at a cost of £300,000 which is now to be demolished.

Work was due to begin soon on the first stage of Craigmillar’s new “town centre” including 300 new homes and a supermarket.

But the report to the Parc board said: “A land sale for residential development in the town centre had been planned, but this couldn’t be achieved.” It went on to talk of “the low level of interest in the town centre for residential development” and said £1,175,401 of mainly “historical fees” had to be written off.

Mr Nolan said: “They’re writing off fees for projects that never happened.”

And he claimed developers were not interested in land at Craigmillar because they knew alternative sites were likely to get the go-ahead in nearby places like The Wisp, Newcraighall and Brunstane. He said: “If you have the choice of greenfield site you’re going to go for that rather than the difficulties of an old housing estate. If this was meant to be market-led regeneration, the market is stuffing them because they’re saying they’re going elsewhere.”

Craigmillar councillor David Walker said he was disappointed but “not entirely surprised” at Parc’s financial problems.

He said: “Regeneration in Craigmillar to date has resulted in too many flats and high density housing developments and they have failed to deliver the new community high school.

“I’m not totally convinced Parc have the expertise within their ranks to deliver the regeneration and improvements that the area requires and it is perhaps time for the city council to take a fresh approach to the regeneration of Craigmillar.”

No-one at Parc was available for comment.

 

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Lidl and Home Bargains to boost Craigmillar

Edinburgh Evening News - 19th March, 2015

Supermarket chain Lidl and discount store Home Bargains are set to give the long-awaited regeneration of Craigmillar town centre a major boost.

The duo have revealed plans to move into the area just weeks after the company in charge of its redevelopment reported a £1.3 million loss.

Housebuilders have also been confirmed for sites on Niddrie Mains Road and Wauchope Terrace as well as a 7.7-acre site in the Greendykes area.

Parc has said that demand for shops would be increased through the building of nearly 2000 new homes in Craigmillar.

Councillor Frank Ross, economy leader at the city council and chairman of Parc, said that attracting leading retailers would “undoubtedly” act as a catalyst for further investment in the area.

He added: “We are also very pleased to be working with CCG (Scotland) Ltd for the development of 121 homes in Craigmillar’s town centre, and to have a major housebuilder, Barratt Homes, looking to provide a wide range of new homes in Greendykes to meet the demand for family housing in the area.

“These new homes and new shopping facilities are planned to start on site during 2016 and will create jobs, building on the council’s investment in the new neighbourhood centre and library which brought over 200 jobs into the area.”

Parc was set up by the city council and its arms-length development company EDI to spearhead the regeneration of Craigmillar.

A confidential report to the Parc board at the end of January said that a loss of £1.3m was due to a land sale for residential development as part of the town centre project which “couldn’t be achieved” and fees incurred in previous years which had to be written off.

But a company spokeswoman stressed that the accounts had been in draft form and actual losses had been “significantly lower”.

She said: “2015 has seen increasing interest in Craigmillar so Parc is looking forward optimistically to the remainder of 2015 and even more growth in interest in development.”

 

[transportfanboy]

I thought there was a Lidl in Craigmillar already?

 

[Kenspeckle]

I thought there was a Lidl in Craigmillar already?

You're right, so they are really just relocating into the new retail development. I think I'm right in saying that Lidl's current store, south of Niddrie Mains Rd, is within an area earmarked for redevelopment in a later phase.

 

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First home on site at new Niddrie housing development

Scottish Housing News - 7th April, 2015

Work is well underway at a new housing development in Niddrie as the first home arrives on site at the development of 66 new homes.

‘The School House’, which is on the site of the former Niddrie Mill Primary School, will see construction and manufacturing specialist CCG (Scotland) Ltd use the latest off site construction methods to build high quality and environmentally efficient homes in the quickest time possible. The School House will comprise 66 residential properties including 34 flats for social and mid market rent and a further 17 flats and 15 houses for private sale. The sale of private homes will be available with support from the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme and prices will be released shortly by sales agents, Savills.

The development will sympathetically retain the frontage of the original school building and create vibrant new green space including around the Category C listed memorial for Major General Andrew Gilbert Wauchope of Niddrie Marischal House which will remain at its original location in front of the school building.

The School House forms part of the regeneration programme for Craigmillar being delivered by PARC Craigmillar Ltd that will see 2,000 new homes, built in the area.

Speaking at the ceremony to mark the first home arriving on site, Councillor Michael Bridgman of the PARC Craigmillar Ltd board, said: “Parc and EDI are committed to the regeneration of Craigmillar and thank CCG for playing their part in ensuring its future success. Together with our recent announcements on the retail and housing developments in the Town Centre and at Greendykes, Craigmillar’s future prospects are looking bright.”

Speaking alongside Councillor Bridgman, CCG (Scotland) Ltd director Calum Murray, said: “CCG is delighted to be working with partners on this development to support the area’s regeneration. In building the highest quality homes, we are utilising our state of the art Off-Site Manufacturing facility to significantly reduce the build time and minimise waste.

“We look forward to playing our part in strengthening the vibrancy of the Craigmillar community in a similar approach to our work as the lead developer for the Commonwealth Games Athletes Village in the East End of Glasgow.”

Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association will be responsible for the rental properties in the development and Alister Steele, managing director, added: “We are very pleased to be working with our partner CCG to deliver a truly mixed tenure development at the former Niddrie Mill Primary School.

“Through our on-going commitment and investment in the regeneration of Craigmillar this project will provide much needed affordable and mid market rent homes for the city and will assist us delivering our commitments under our 1000 Homes for Edinburgh initiative.

“Through the provision of both affordable and mid market rent homes Niddrie Mill will assist in increasing the range of affordable housing options for people within the city.”

The development will be completed in spring 2016.

 

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Exhibition turns spotlight on Craigmillar

Edinburgh Evening News - 12th June, 2015

It is one of the biggest communities in Edinburgh, and somewhere which has seen more than its fair share of shifting fortunes over the centuries.

And now residents of Craigmillar are being invited to take a look back at part of the history of the area – while learning about the ambitious plans to reshape its future.

The settlement, around the impressive Craigmillar Castle, goes back to the 14th century – although it was in 1924 that the local council started to rebuild the landscape and create large-scale housing in the area.

The Craigmilllar estate, immediately below the castle, was planned in 1936, and was considered a beacon of modern living – until problems with social deprivation saw it slide into violence and poverty in the 1980s and 1990s.

This week the EDI Group announced it would hold two community information events on June 27 and 29 at The White House – the iconic pub that was one of the most high-profile structures to be preserved from the old Craigmillar – to discuss the future of the area.

And as well as a chance to look at designs for the future, visitors will be able to look over a series of portraits looking at the area in the 1990s, from its playparks and shop shutters to the housing schemes and vivid murals.

Allan McGregor’s Breathing Space exhibition is a documentary-style portrayal of suburban areas of Scotland’s Capital including Craigmillar, Niddrie, Greendykes and Newcraighall.

This is the first time the full-scale exhibition will be on show to the public, showcasing over 60 monochromatic images of the local areas during the severe economic decline of the early nineties.

It was a time just after riots in Craigmillar sparked by a concern about a lack of public facilities.

Mark Harris, head of development – regeneration at the EDI Group Ltd, said the aim was to transform Craigmillar for the future.

“The regeneration of Craigmillar has been EDI’s largest development programme since the project began in 2002,” he said.

“It covers four key areas: Wauchope Square, town centre, Greendykes and the South East Wedge Parkland.

“Our vision is to regenerate Craigmillar to create a welcoming, sustainable and balanced community where people want to live and work.” And he said that the new plans would include replacements for the open-air public areas which had been either lost or allowed to deteriorate over time.

“EDI’s proposals, through Parc Craigmillar, include over 1800 homes, three schools, new commercial, retail and restaurant facilities, as well as substantial public realm improvements which will incorporate a new town centre square and over 100 acres of parkland,” he said. “The regeneration of Craigmillar is gaining momentum with the retail component of the new town centre likely to open in 2016 with leading retailers Lidl and Home Bargains.”

It is hoped work on more new housing in the area could “increase significantly” next year – with Barratt Homes committing to an additional 158 homes due to commence on-site in spring 2016. The informal drop-in events will be an opportunity for residents to find out more about the recent announcements for the Town Centre, as well as Wauchope and Greendykes.

And alongside the grainy images of the area’s recent past will be a colourful CGI rendition of how it is expected to look in years to come.

The drop-in events will be held on Saturday, June 27, and Monday, June 29, from 10am to 4pm at The White House.

 

[Kenspeckle]

Current objectives for Craigmillar from the EDI Business Plan 2015-2017.

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES: 2015

• One residential land sale in Greendykes agreed.
• Town centre residential land sale agreed.
• Town Centre retail detailed planning consent approved.
• Town centre infrastructure works commenced.
• Niddrie Mains Road shop fronts renovated.

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES: 2016 & 2017

• Greendykes land sale concluded.
• Greendykes residential occupation commenced.
• Greendykes second land sale agreed.
• Greendykes infrastructure completed.
• Town Centre retail centre and central plaza open.
• Town Centre restaurant land sale agreed.
• First residential units occupied in Town Centre residential.

 

[Kenspeckle]

Application submitted for the latest phase at Greendykes - 149 homes on the site of Wighton House. Architects are Smith Scott Mullan for developer Places for People.

15/03821/FUL | Proposed residential development of 149 houses and flats on a partly brownfield site including roads, car parking, landscaping and a centralised district heating system. | Land 80 Metres South East Of 12 Almond Court Greendykes Road Edinburgh

Designs are very similar to the adjacent Tudsbery Court, Smith Scott Mullan's recently completed previous phase for the same developer.