June 23 2020

A tired office block in the heart of Edinburgh's Haymarket office district is to be dragged from the 1970s into the 21st century under redevelopment plans led by Aviva Investors.

A proposal of application notice has been filed for Rosebery House by 3DReid Architects as a precursor to demolition, opening up the brownfield site for a new net-zero carbon development.

Delivering 158,070sq/ft of net internal floorspace the new Rosebery House is being designed from the ground up to minimise its carbon impact, with every detail tailored to achieve this goal from glazing ratios and orientation to facade depths and blinds.

The health and wellbeing of occupants have also spurred inclusion of external terraces across the building and rooftop amenity space together with solar panels and a rainwater retention system. In line with this ethos, only 'minimum' car parking will be provided in favour of cycling provision that will help facilitate active travel between Haymarket Station and the city centre.

Daniel McHugh, managing director of Real Estate for Aviva Investors commented: “The new Rosebery House is being built for the future, with every element carefully considered around its sustainability and we are committed to obtaining a Net Zero Carbon rating for the building’s operation.

“By fully utilising this existing brownfield site, there is the opportunity to maximise the new building’s potential and in doing so create a real focal point for the ongoing redevelopment of the Haymarket area and play a major role in its transformation to a major business destination.”

Subject to the necessary approvals it is hoped to have the development ready for occupation by 2025.

6 Comments

#1 Posted by juan de los angeles on 23 Jun 2020 at 14:04 PM

Dragged from the 1970s? Still looks firmly rooted there. Try again.

#2 Posted by jim on 23 Jun 2020 at 14:34 PM

nett zero carbon for the building's operation - the carbon cost of redevelopment will, of course, be massive

#3 Posted by Inahuf on 23 Jun 2020 at 15:20 PM

@2 - well said! And how many zero carbon designs are zero in practice? Add in the shift in working habits and this is a white elephant before it starts!

#4 Posted by SAndals on 24 Jun 2020 at 13:16 PM

Oooft! I can't see anything past the massing of the blocks on the adjacent Haymarket gap site...

#5 Posted by CJH on 28 Jun 2020 at 22:50 PM

Looks pish.

#6 Posted by Marti on 27 Aug 2022 at 16:33 PM

Gawd nooo... its pretty damn ugly. Like a sandstone version of Argyle House just up the road.
The need take some inspiration from the nicer new developments in the area. And an active extension with
retail onto the tram stop is essential.

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