The creation of a £1.3bn new coastal town at Granton Waterfront in Edinburgh has reached its next major milestone.
Following a competitive procurement process, the City of Edinburgh Council has announced the Cruden Group as its preferred bidder to take forward the first phase of regeneration work. It is hoped the contract will be signed by both parties in the coming weeks.
Pre-development works include detailed designs for around 750 net zero homes for sale and rent, along with commercial space, new and enhanced transport infrastructure and public realm which will connect the surrounding neighbourhoods with the waterfront.
The first phase of the project will also see the delivery of a new school and medical centre.
In addition, the council will also work with its new development partner to bring forward a low carbon energy solution for the first and future phases of the project, contributing to its target to reach net zero emissions by 2030.
The Cruden Group is set to bring on board local architects Smith Scott Mullen, alongside Scandinavian architect C. F. Moller.
Council leader Cammy Day said: "This is the largest regeneration project of its kind in Scotland and it’s giving us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transition towards a greener economy in our capital city, while building many of the affordable homes Edinburgh needs within 20 minute communities with shops, healthcare, cultural and leisure and education facilities all nearby.
"As Granton Waterfront is one of the seven strategic sites within the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal it will build on Scotland’s vision for achieving net zero, place-making and people-led growth.
"We’ve been consulting with local people at every stage of this project - I’ll make sure this continues when the development partner comes on board, with jobs for local people and wider community benefits."
Fraser Lynes, director for the Cruden Group, said: "This new approach to urban development is transformational and will provide a blueprint for the future as we reconnect the capital to the Firth of Forth and create a new coastal neighbourhood which will become one of Europe's largest coastal amenities."
Progress is already being made, with more than 500 net zero affordable homes currently under construction at Western Villages off Marine Drive and a further 75 being built behind the former Granton Station building.
There are also three commercial units fronting onto Waterfront Avenue under construction as well.
A further 142 additional homes planned for Silverlea are currently waiting to be considered by planning committees.
There has also been positive progress in growing a cultural and arts cluster in Granton Waterfront. Last year, the council announced the start of works to refurbish the former Granton Station building into a creative work space, with a lease being given to Scottish arts Charity Wasps, while arts charity Edinburgh Palette has been granted a lease in a vacant industrial unit on West Shore Road.
The Granton Gasholder is now also illuminated every night for the remainder of this year, following a joint initiative with Edinburgh College. Refurbishment of the gas holder and creation of public amenity space, part-funded through the UK Government’s Levelling Up Funding, is due to start on site at the end of this year to be completed mid-2024.
Just three miles north of Edinburgh’s city centre, Granton Waterfront has an industrial history and maritime heritage.
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