An Edinburgh city centre industrial unit could be converted into an indoor and outdoor marketplace with both food and retail stalls.
A planning application has been submitted to the city council to change classes at 254 Leith Walk to Class six, to Sui Generis, following the applicant's wishes to turn the sizeable unit into a market to hopefully regenerate the area.
In a supporting statement, the applicant said they were 'confident' that the area of Leith would benefit from such a change and that there is a growing demand for similar markets.
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They said: "We are applying for planning permission for change of use for the land/ property at 254 Leith walk EH65EL. The current use in place is class six distribution and storage but was used as a retail store for the last 14 years. We are applying to change from class six use to Sui Generis.
"We have a project for a marketplace both indoor and outdoor, the marketplace will have a variety of stalls for retail and food. Marketplace does not fall under any other specific use; this is the reason we are applying for Sui Generis . As you can see from the project plans the market will have lots of allocated space just for local artists.
"The opening hours of the marketplace will be 9am-7pm. We have taken the surrounding residential buildings into consideration when deciding on the opening and closing times. I definitely think that Leith walk will benefit from this project. There is already a lot of interest in the stalls of the marketplace."
The location in question is just behind the former Crawfords Furniture Warehouse that operated for just short of 50 years in the capital before its owner sadly passed away recently. The unit itself has been the subject of multiple student accommodation and residential flats proposals that have fallen through or been refused in recent years.
The unit, built in the 70s, is also located to the right of Balfour Street and has access via a small alley between the former Crawfords store and a kebab takeaway. The applicant has also submitted plans that would see the building transformed into a showroom for artists and has shared plans to sell food throughout the day.
Edinburgh benefits from popular weekend markets across the city centre, in Stockbridge and one further east in Leith towards the docks. The city has proven to be a hotspot for such venues and opportunities for local businesses to present and sell their own produce and gifts.
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