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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Kris Gourlay

Plans for eight new Edinburgh police boxes on busy street to create 'community hub'

Plans have been submitted to Edinburgh Council which would see eight new police boxes built in a busy area, offering new pop-up vendors including opportunities for food and drink stalls.

The plan is to create a new community hub and add to the single police box currently situated on Leith Walk. If permission is granted, eight more similar boxes would be installed as well as toilet facilities and a supply of electricity.

The applicant, Leith Walk Police Box, is behind the plans, saying: "The project is located on Leith Walk, Edinburgh. There is currently a 1930’s police box structure on the site on the wider pavement with high foot and cyclist traffic.

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"The client wishes to add circa eight more small pop-up, temporary structures which can be rented for short or longer periods of time by other organizations to create a community hub. The client would like to obtain planning permission on the site."

In recent years, historic police boxes have re-appeared throughout the capital, most serving food and drink, as owners have turned them into creative and relatively cheap restoration and business projects.

Some of the police boxes would sell food and drink throughout the day. (Leith Walk Police Box)

The proposals for Leith Walk would see a total of nine boxes occupying the busy street next to the new tram line, situated to prevent impeding the pedestrian and cycle path.

The design statement continues: "The expansion of the police box into an additional eight pop- up spaces and an accessible WC will provide affordable spaces for entrepreneurs, community initiatives and projects.

"It will act as an attraction to Leith Walk and a reason to come here. This pop up will compliment current Leith Walk businesses that will attract new business and provide residents with enhanced retail choices."

Visualisations of the completed project indicate all eight new units would be decorated in a brightly coloured fashion and many would be used to sell food and drink, operating at various times throughout the week.

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