Former RHSC Redevelopment | Sciennes | U/C

Residents living near Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Hospital are planning to launch a potential community buy-out of the site.

They say they want to ensure that when the hospital moves out next year, the use of the land includes healthcare provision, quality affordable housing and infrastructure for community enterprise.

They are forming a new community body, the Marchmont & Sciennes Development Trust, to register an interest in the site under the Scottish Government’s community right-to-buy legislation.

And they plan to gather signatures on a petition to show the level of support for going forward with the right-to-buy process.

Tom Bristow, one of the directors of the new trust, said conversations had been going on between the community and NHS Lothian about the future of the site for some time.

“You can sit and wait for them to make their decisions or you can work on it yourself.”

He said people in Marchmont/Sciennes had been inspired by the Action Porty group in Portobello whose plans to take over former Portobello Old Parish Church are set to become the first urban community buy-out under the latest legislation. “People were saying we should think about that as well.”

The hospital was put on the market at the end of last year and experts predicted there would be developers “queuing up” to buy it for a prime-site housing development. It is expected to sell for tens of millions of pounds.

Staff at the Sick Kids are preparing to move to a new purpose-built, £150 million building next door to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France in spring next year.

Mr Bristow said a meeting in November had drawn up ideas the community wanted to see included in redevelopment of the Sciennes site, including housing, community enterprise and healthcare. “People were not 100 per cent sure their feelings would be represented on that.

The community right-to-buy is one process that might address that. “We’re petitioning the community over the next ten days to see what interest there is.”

A meeting to outline the opportunity is to be held at the German church, Chalmers Crescent, next Tuesday at 7pm.


Read more at: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...ick-kids-community-buy-out-on-cards-1-4366894

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The millionaire founder of the Capital’s Summerhall arts venue wants to buy the Sick Kids Hospital and turn it into a gallery of children’s art.

Former banking consultant Robert McDowell would also create a Festival museum and space for artists and creative industry start-up businesses.

He has put in an initial bid for the site, which the hospital is due to vacate next year when it moves to a new building next to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France.

But he faces competition from property developers and a potential community buy-out.

Mr McDowell said: “This is a wonderful building and site which has been of great public service for the best part of a century and a half, saving so many children’s lives. It should be recycled somehow or other for public use again. I’m prepared to try and back that and have a go.

“You hear of so many public buildings being turned into flats and banks only lending for property. I’m trying to give a signal that there are more things we should be thinking about. We have to think about intellectual and cultural life and not just think the only business in town is property development.”

The gallery of children’s art would be at the heart of his plans. He said: “When you walk through the corridors at the moment they have little drawings and paintings everywhere.

“There is nothing that moves you more than the art children produce when they are experiencing difficult times and trauma and trying to understand life.

“I don’t think there’s a museum anywhere that does that.

“Edinburgh has also been crying out for a long time for a museum of the history of the Festival, which of all the cultural things in Edinburgh is the one thing that is way ahead of everything else worldwide and is the reason millions of people come to Edinburgh.”

He said he expected the site to go for £15m-£25m. “We would have to come up with a good price that’s competitive.

“We’ve got to see how we can free up and garner the finance, but what we have said is we can be very flexible – if they want to take longer over the move of the hospital we are happy to give them that flexibility.”

Mr McDowell said the success of Summmerhall – the former Dick Vet School which he transformed into a venue with 700,000 visitors a year and employing 500 people – strengthened their case.

“We’ve done it already. It’s close to where we are, we have a lot of experience and a whole management team.”

The closing date for initial offers was Thursday last week and health bosses are expected to draw up a shortlist over the next few weeks.

Iain Graham, director of capital planning and projects, NHS Lothian, said: “We received a number of offers for the site. These offers will be analysed over the coming months before a preferred purchaser is selected. No decisions have been taken yet and a formal consultation will take place once a preferred purchaser is selected in early spring.”


Read more at: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...-for-edinburgh-s-sick-kids-hospital-1-4368009

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Kenspeckle said:

Edinburgh’s Sick Kids community buy-out on cards

Edinburgh Evening News - 15th February 2017

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madboy said:

Interesting, unless a wealthy benefactor comes along to purchase the building then effectively "gift it" to the community like Summerhall, does anyone else really think they have a chance of being successful?

I think the smart money is still on a Quartermile style upmarket accommodation or a hotel.

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Kenspeckle said:

Edinburgh’s Sick Kids community buy-out on cards

Edinburgh Evening News - 15th February 2017

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Millionaire Robert McDowell is threatening legal action against NHS Lothian over what he calls a “stitch-up” on the sale of the Sick Kids Hospital site.

The founder of the Summerhall arts venue has been told that his bid to turn the hospital into a gallery of children’s art had been rejected.

Health bosses have now drawn up a shortlist of potential purchasers for the site, which is due to be vacated next year when the Sick Kids moves to a new base next to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France. It is widely expected to go for housing development.

But Mr McDowell is angry that the future of a prime public asset is being decided without open debate.

He said: “They have rejected my offer but said they wouldn’t give any reason until after the final bidder is chosen. That might be reasonable if it was a private sector asset being sold, but it is totally unreasonable and patently wrong when it’s a public sector asset and particularly one of such importance.

“My view is the whole thing has been a stitch-up in order to keep the thing only to the usual suspects.

“Some of these usual suspects are good friends of mine and have said to me they completely respect or even admire our bid while they are just going through the usual motions of what is normal business and it’s not because what they are proposing is the best solution.

“This is a public interest matter. The public and politicians need to be informed and there needs to be discussion.”

A gallery of children’s art is the centrepiece of Mr McDowell’s proposal, but he would also include a Festival museum and space for artists and creative industry start-up businesses.

He said: “Although they have not told me why our bid was rejected, I have a good suspicion why. In the position statement by the NHS they attempt to interpret city council requirements which include one that for large sites at least half the site has to be private residential development. If that had been in place in 2011 we wouldn’t have Summerhall.

“But it’s wrong for the NHS or their agents to try to second guess what the planning process may or may not decide. Rulings like that can always be discussed.”

Mr McDowell said: “I will take legal action against the agents, against the NHS, and I will do my damnedest to stop this process in its tracks unless I get proper reassurance.

“And I’m calling on politicians at all levels to do their own checking to see whether they think how this is being done is proper when we’re talking about public sector assets.”

“It seems decisions are being railroaded through by people who think property interests and short-term profit-making should be the over-riding consideration.”

Susan Goldsmith, director of finance at NHS Lothian, said: “We understand it is always disappointing for bidders who have been unsuccessful. Detailed feedback will be provided in due course.”


Read more at: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...claim-over-edinburgh-sick-kids-sale-1-4385072

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Residents have formally submitted a community bid for the Sick Kids Hospital.

They say the application to the Scottish Government to be given first refusal on the four-acre site being sold by NHS Lothian will be the first big test of new laws extending the “right to buy” to urban areas.

The residents have set up the Marchmont and Sciennes Development Trust to spearhead the initiative, which proposes using the site for affordable co-operative housing, healthcare and nursery facilities, space for social enterprises and a community hall.

The 122-year-old hospital is due to close and move to a new building next to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary next year.

The trust says it is facing competition from private developers keen to build luxury flats.

Under the legislation, the Sick Kids sale process has now been paused and ministers have 30 days to decide if the community bid should get first refusal on the site.

Trust spokesman Nathan Bower-Bir said: “This is a significant test of the Scottish Government’s ambitious plans to give the ‘right to buy’ enjoyed by rural communities to those living in towns and cities.

“The hospital is dearly held by people both locally and across Scotland. Whilst we’re sad to see it move, this is a dream opportunity to bring this historic site under community control and put it to the benefit of all of us – not just the well off.

“The people of this community are driving this idea and it is clear they want more than what we have seen at other city-centre sites sold off, where developers cram in as many expensive flats as they can and fence off any green space from public access.

“This is an opportunity for ministers to show that these laws are not token gestures, but in fact are significant acts of reform that truly empower local communities.”

He said local people could see the potential for preserving the Sick Kids’ heritage as well as revitalising the area.

The first urban community buy-out under the legislation is expected to take place in Portobello with Action Porty’s takeover of a redundant church, but the Sick Kids plans are on a much larger and more complicated site.

Mr Bower-Bir said the Portobello project had been a great inspiration. He added: “It was through reading about their success in the News that we said this looks like a perfect opportunity.”

Lothian Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said he hoped community buy-out would be allowed to move forward, adding: “There is significant community support across Marchmont and Sciennes for the community buyout of this important site and a desire to see it utilised in a way that will maximise benefits for all local residents.”

And Steve Burgess, Green councillor for Southside/Newington, said: “From the word go there’s been a huge interest among local residents about the future of the Sick Kids site. A community-led development of the site would allow the community’s ideas to be taken forward.”


Read more at: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...-for-edinburgh-s-sick-kids-hospital-1-4405917

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belle said:

I'm lead to believe that the Trust's submission includes a proposal for 300 student beds in the scheme... sort of surprised that's what the residents of Sciennes would want.

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dadabouttown said:

Not half.

I googled the Trusts spokesman Nathan Bower-Bir (BTW is that name real? There is such a thing as a bower bird.)

Anyways he's doing PHD in alternative housing ownership or somesuch at the Uni. I suspect this is a live thesis project!

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Most of the cash from the sale of the Sick Kids Hospital looks set to go straight to the Scottish Government rather than cash-strapped NHS Lothian.

The hospital site in Sciennes Road – a prime location close to the Meadows – is expected to fetch up to £25 million. But under government rules, most of the money from such sales by health boards must go to the Scottish Government’s health department to fund projects across the country, unless it has already been allocated to a government-approved project in the health board area.

It is understood the Sick Kids proceeds have not been earmarked to any specific project.

Edinburgh Southern Labour MSP Daniel Johnson said the cash was needed here. He said: “The money raised must stay in the Lothians. This is a growing city with a health service under strain, we cannot allow a cash grab by the Scottish Government.”

Developers are eager to secure the land for housing when the hospital moves to a new home next to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France. But campaigners have put forward proposals for a community buy-out.

The Marchmont and Sciennes Development Trust, which is behind the community bid, wants to use the site for affordable co-operative housing, healthcare and nursery facilities, space for social enterprises and a community hall.

It formally lodged the application late last month and ministers must decide within 30 days whether the community bid should get first refusal.

Mr Johnson voiced concern about the potential for a conflict of interest between the government’s financial interest and its role in having to rule on allowing the community buy-out bid to proceed to the next stage, which would delay a quick sale.

He has written to Land Reform Secretary Roseanna Cunningham, asking her to set out what measures would be put in place to avoid such a conflict.

He said: “The sale of this site will result in significant capital receipts, therefore Scottish ministers have an interest in this sale either directly or indirectly.

“Given that ministers will also have to decide whether there is a valid community interest under the statutory process in the coming weeks, which would in turn result in a delay to the sale, there is a clear possibility of a conflict of interest.”

The rules on the sale of health board land and property say the “capital” element of the proceeds will go to the government for reinvestment in the overall capital programme unless it has already been approved for spend on a separate project.

The board does retain the “profit” element of the proceeds – the difference between the valuation and the sale price.

A spokesman for the community trust said: “The ideas put forward by the people living around the Sick Kids site have the potential to revitalise the local area and address some of the big pressures on our city.

“I think we all would appreciate clarity on where exactly the money raised by the sale will go, given most people will have assumed it will all be going to the health board.”

NHS Lothian and the Scottish Government both said it would be inappropriate to comment.


Read more at: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...-sale-will-go-to-government-not-nhs-1-4421739

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RED TAPE DELAY HITS SICK KIDS COMMUNITY BID

A community group’s bid to buy a historic Scottish hospital has been delayed by red tape.

The Scottish Government was considering an application by residents living next to the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh to be given first refusal to buy the site under new urban ‘community right to buy’ laws.

But the process has stalled after complex land ownership issues around the 122-year-old hospital revealed that although the four-acre facility is being marketed as one site, it is owned by two separate legal entities.

This means the Marchmont and Sciennes Development Trust (MSDT) has had to drop its single application to be given first refusal on the site and will now submit two separate bids to Scottish ministers to try and gain control of the iconic hospital.

The two landowners at the Sick Kids are NHS Lothian and its charitable trust, the Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation.

MSDT has today asked both the health board and foundation to release all of the tittle deeds it holds for the land and buildings in order to get beyond this impasse.

However, this latest development effectively means that a suspension of the sale process - ordered while the Scottish Government considered the original right to buy application - has now been lifted and health chiefs can resume talks with short-listed private developers.

Affordable co-operative housing, healthcare and nursery facilities, space for social enterprises and a multi-purpose community hall are among the ideas for the Sick Kids already suggested by MSDT – the community body representing local residents.

A MSDT spokesman said: “This complication is disappointing but not unexpected given it is a complex site and it is a bid that really tests the new legislation.

“We are now focused on definitively determining who owns which parts of the site and submitting the two applications that could ultimately see the community take control of the Sick Kids site when the NHS moves out.

“We have asked the health board and the foundation for help with this task as they hold the relevant title deeds, a move which will benefit all parties as it would speed up the process and get us all closer to a decision on whether MSDT should get first refusal on the site."

“This site remains a dream opportunity to bring this historic hospital under community control.”

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Earlier today NHS Lothian announced that they have sold the building to a developer, Downing Group, and that the sale will finalise when the new building at Little France is ready.

The 4.01 acre site owned by NHS Lothian and Edinburgh and the Lothians Health Foundation charity lies just beside the Meadows is iconic and the buildings are listed.

A community right to buy bid now appears to have been thwarted.

Marchmont and Sciennes Development Trust (MSDT) had previously asked Scottish Ministers to use this new law to give them first refusal to buy the site.

MSDT’s formal bid was held up after complex land ownership issues around the 122-year-old hospital revealed that although the four-acre facility is being marketed as one site, the ownership was split between the two bodies.

The group has spent the last few months addressing this, and other issues raised, and submitted a revised application to the Scottish Government on 7 September 2017.

On September 14, The Scottish Government told MSDT it had issued a notice to NHS Lothian by recorded delivery to say that, under the terms of the legislation, the Sick Kids sale process should be paused.

But this morning NHS Lothian announced it had reached a deal with the Downing Group and that missives were concluded on 5 September 2017.

Affordable co-operative housing, healthcare and nursery facilities, space for social enterprises and a multi-purpose community hall were among the ideas for the Sick Kids suggested by MSDT – the community body representing local residents.

A MSDT spokesperson, said: “We are gutted that we have not even had the chance for our application to be judged by the Scottish Government, which appears to be in the dark about this sale.

“Only yesterday (Thursday) the Government’s community land team told us they had issued a prohibition notice to NHS Lothian which would have forced the sale process to be paused while our application was being considered by ministers.

“It turns out the sale had already been concluded by NHS Lothian ten days ago.

“This application was considered by many as an ‘acid test’ for the new urban right to buy laws and we feel very disappointed, as will many people in the community around the Sick Kids, that we did not get the chance to show how it would work.

“The reality of this decision is that only the bare legal minimum of the sorts of things local people suggested for this site – such as the affordable housing, more space for the local school and community facilities – is likely to happen now.

“You only have to look across The Meadows at the luxury QuarterMile development for an example of how this could now turn out for those hoping for more community facilities.

“The application process has been dogged by delays on The Scottish Government side, well beyond what the legislation states, and a string of technical challenges which the Government and Holyrood must look at again to help other communities which want to use this law.

“This is not the end of the road for MSDT and we will be in touch with our supporters in the coming weeks to gauge the appetite for engaging with the preferred bidder, and other ways we can transform our local area.”

Jacquie Campbell, Chief Officer for Acute Services, NHS Lothian said: “The decision to move the services from the current site and dispose of the site was not an easy one to make. The legacy of the Royal Hospital for Sick Kids dates back to 1863 and since 1895 the hospital at Sciennes Road has been home to thousands of children and their families in the building many have grown to call ‘the sick kids’.

“Although the site has a developer lined up to take ownership of the site, patients and their families can rest assured that no changes will be made to the current facilities until they are set to move to the their new location in the £150m Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Little France next year.”

David Fraser, partner with Ryden, adviser to NHS Lothian said: “The property was put up for sale in November 2016 and naturally generated a great deal of interest which resulted in 21 formal bids being received in early 2017.

“After carefully consideration, six bidders were invited to provide additional clarifications whereby the Downing Groups was selected as preferred bidder.”

Jane Ferguson, Director, Edinburgh and the Lothians Health Foundation added: “On behalf of the trustees of the Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, I am delighted that the process to sell the buildings that make up the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Sciennes has reached its conclusion.

“This step is an important one in the hospital’s relocation to Little France, Edinburgh, together with the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

“The trustees have already committed over £2m to the development and realisation of the Art and Therapeutic Design programme for the new building, helping to creating a home for the hospital every bit as iconic as the old ‘Sick Kids’.

“The proceeds of the sale of the trustee-owned buildings at Sciennes will be used to continue to support our vision of healthier, longer lives for the people of Lothian.”

The terms of the legislation means that NHS Lothian would appear to have acted within the law, as the public body selling a building is not obliged to stop the sale until the Scottish Government issues a ‘prohibition notice’.

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A major consultation will get under way within weeks after the new owners of the Sick Kids hospital site took their first step towards redeveloping it into housing.

The 122-year-old building near the Meadows was acquired in September by the Downing Group with an estimated offer of around £20 million.

A Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) has now been lodged with the city council, with the firm saying it expects to submit a full planning application in spring.

Ian Harrison, development and acquisition manager at Downing Group, said meetings had now begun with interested parties to discuss their plans and receive feedback.

He said a quarter of housing at the site would be affordable, with student accommodation also planned.

He added: “We recognise the responsibility we have in making sure that this development is right for the site and for the area, and we look forward to engaging with as many people as possible to help us progress our plans.”

News of the acquisition followed an unsuccessful bid from the Marchmont and Sciennes Development Trust (MSDT) to purchase the site under new urban community right-to-buy laws.

However, at a recent public meeting the group said it had received support for them to explore the possibility of any community ownership opportunities left on the site in conjunction with Downing.

A spokesman said: “Despite the disappointment of not having our community right to buy application considered before the Sick Kids was sold, our public meeting showed there is still appetite for local residents to be in control of at least part of the site.

“We’ve engaged constructively with the developer and we are waiting to hear back from them to see if they are interested in pursuing the ideas put forward by the community.”

Edinburgh consultants Holder Planning will oversee the consultation, while plans will be drawn up by Fletcher Joseph Architects.

Paul Harkin, director at Fletcher Joseph, said: “The Sick Kids hospital has an iconic status in the city and now that its original function has come to an end, the challenge will be to redevelop it in a manner which is sensitive to the important legacy that it leaves behind.

“There is a fantastic opportunity here to recreate the site in a manner that reflects its important history, whilst providing new homes.”

The first of the public exhibitions is scheduled for November 28 in St Catherine’s Argyle Church on Marchmont Road.

It will run from 2.30pm until 7.30pm. Two further exhibitions will develop the detail of the proposals further and are scheduled to take place on January 10 and February 7 2018.


Read more at: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...g-plans-unveiled-for-sick-kids-site-1-4601911

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