February 7 2020

Sundial Properties have lodged plans for a mixed-residential development in Leith, Edinburgh, following the conclusion of a public engagement exercise.

The one-hectare dockyard site is bounded by Baltic and Constitution Street and was formerly occupied by the Leith Gas Company, before latterly hosting a timber merchant, with surviving industrial architecture to be retained wherever possible.

Outlining their architectural approach Michael Laird Architects wrote: “As the site once more adapts to new uses, it is important that these old buildings and their rough finishes are celebrated. This can be done by ensuring that the newer buildings are layered into the site and are completely legible as new. This way, the development will be sure to capture every period of its history and will tell of the constant change it has undergone.

“The industrial buildings will be appreciated for their robust design, surrounded by elegant and modern additions which echo the buildings which did not survive.”

This work will see existing warehouses refurbished with sympathetic new additions employing an articulated roofline and vertical separation in a nod to historic massing.

Landscape design undertaken by RankinFraser will further cement new and old by marrying student housing, commercial space and affordable homes within a unified public realm.

9 Comments

#1 Posted by rankbadyin on 7 Feb 2020 at 11:27 AM

I think this looks fantastic

#2 Posted by Stewart on 7 Feb 2020 at 11:28 AM

This is a really interesting site, the design looks good and could have been a really great residential development. It's a shame to see there is no real mixing going on, it's essentially just student housing miles away from any university campus.

It would be nice to see more residential properties as the area needs it and affordable units as 18 out of 558 is not proportional.

#3 Posted by Aldridge on 7 Feb 2020 at 12:39 PM

Great scheme. Really like the way it mixes the industrial buildings with the new buildings.

#4 Posted by KDL on 7 Feb 2020 at 13:57 PM

Looks good to me, I like the way the facade is being preserved.

Never understand the argument that student housing is too far from campuses. There are thousands of people working in Edinburgh who commute from as far away as Glasgow, but we can't expect students to travel a few miles?

#5 Posted by Dulnain on 7 Feb 2020 at 16:09 PM

Like the proposal and it’s integration with the streetscape and the repurposing of much of what is left of the old gas works. My only concern looking at this site plan is that it looks like a gated community is being created. All accesses appear to be capable of being closed to the public which is a great pity given the possible links created by this development.

#6 Posted by Salamander on 8 Feb 2020 at 08:12 AM

There aren't going to be 558 flats - it would be more massive than the Ropeworks! - there are 66 dorm units and 18 affordable flats, which is a perfectly healthy mix - and there's a whole new affordable development next door coming up by PoLHa.

#7 Posted by Shunts on 8 Feb 2020 at 09:14 AM

Like we need any more student accommodation in Edinburgh. How about homes for people that really need them. It's looks a good design, but should be a mix or private and council and not for students.

#8 Posted by Balgowan on 8 Feb 2020 at 16:21 PM

#7, have you told the developers what they should be doing? Please share their response when you get it.

#9 Posted by Daniel on 10 Feb 2020 at 14:26 PM

Can totally understand the emotional response to "more student housing", but really it keeps a lot of them out of the mainstream rental market, and - probably more importantly - the price of all the purpose built stuff keeps those with the most money out of the mainstream rental market. And it does it at higher densities than you'd get with a mainstream development. So [shrugs]

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