April 17 2025

The City of Edinburgh Council is revisiting a consented residential development in Pennywell to take into account post-Covid priorities.

Stallan-Brand architects have reimagined the project from the ground up, conceiving 90 new council houses and two shops on the site of the former Muirhouse Shopping Centre on Pennywell Road.

Fronting MacMillan Square and a recently completed arts centre by Richard Murphy Architects, the latest plans seek to improve the appearance and usability of the square by bulking out its southern edge.

In a statement, Stallan-Brand wrote: "The older design does not meet the housing mix that is needed for the council’s current demand or comply with the council’s net zero carbon ambition and current design guidance. It is considered that these new proposals will make the project more sustainable, cost-effective and more suitable to the housing demand that the council is currently facing."

Comprising interlocking eastern and western blocks the homes will frame the arts hub with an active frontage while opening up through access to the south via a landscaped courtyard.   

3 Comments

#1 Posted by KB on 17 Apr 2025 at 17:36 PM

Wow. Just when you thought design couldn't get any worse. Admittedly, there will be constraints on budgets etc., but really (!) - is that the best they could come up with? This thing probably has a life span of 10 years if your'e lucky. The architects name is very apt.

#2 Posted by Roddy_ on 19 Apr 2025 at 01:03 AM

What is going on ? Yet another sieve-like open block rather than a proper closed perimeter block. The split in the block acting as some kind of misplaced axial route. I won't insult the collective intelligence by explaining why good definition between the public and semi-public or private domain is a good thing. Proof positive again that architects make rather bad urbanists.

#3 Posted by Mansartarchi on 21 Apr 2025 at 13:42 PM

Frontal bossing too much, same a the new development facing Ferry Road.

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