UK: GBP 200 million for transformint the old Scottish & Newcastle bottling and distribution plant in Fountainbridge

Work to transform a huge former brewery site in the heart of the Capital is set to get under way within six months, has emerged on January 4th. The city planners have given their approval to a GBP 200 million blueprint for the old Scottish & Newcastle bottling and distribution plant in Fountainbridge, according to a report of Business Scotsman.

The developers are set to receive official backing next week for a scheme which would see the creation of around 650 homes and up to 2500 jobs in the area. The scheme has already been two years in the planning after the 900,000sq ft site next door to the FountainPark leisure centre was snapped up from the brewing company.

About 160,000 square feet of offices, shops and business units, a mini supermarket, nursery, hotel and major new public park are all expected to be created in what is described as one of the city centre's biggest regeneration projects.

Tree-lined roads, pedestrian and cycling routes and underground parking for almost 500 vehicles are expected to be key features of the development, which will see two new through routes created between Fountainbridge and the West Approach Road.

It is expected that the massive development will help to provide a major new link between the Viewforth/Bruntsfield district and Haymarket. The residential element of the scheme will include affordable housing, town houses aimed at families, apartments and luxury apartments.

The area earmarked for the development has brewery links dating back to 1856, when William McEwan first started his business in Fountainbridge. It expanded on to the development site in the 1880s. On the other side of the main road at Fountainbridge from the development site lies the brewery site finally vacated by Scottish & Newcastle after it relocated to the Caledonian Brewery at Slateford last summer.

The scheme is being masterminded by a consortium involving developers AMA (New Town) Ltd, Grosvenor and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Alan Henderson, the council's head of planning, who is urging councillors to approve the consortium's planning application, said the proposed scheme met with a recently-approved development brief for the Fountainbridge area. He added: "The proposals will contribute to the establishment of a mixed-use urban community which links with the surrounding area and they have been designed in recognition of the future development potential of the south brewery land."

Mr Henderson stated that the housing department was satisfied with the allocation of affordable housing in the development; the scheme would preserve views of Edinburgh Castle from Fountainbridge; and there would be no adverse impact on any existing listed buildings in the area.

Dr Ali Afshar, the director of AMA, stated: "We have carried out extensive consultation with local residents' groups and heritage organisations and have made a number of changes in the planning stages of the development as a result of that. "If all goes well with the planning application next Wednesday, I would hope we would be able to start work on site by May or June of this year."

The consortium implied in the Fountain North brewery site is believed to be a strong contender to snap up the brewery site on the other side of the road, which runs along the banks of the Union Canal.

The Evening News revealed in November how a new canal basin was planned as part of that development after city council leaders insisted on it as an integral part of any scheme brought forward.

It is thought the canal basin, set to cost up to £9 million to create, will attract barge owners from all along the Millennium Link - which connects Edinburgh, Glasgow and Falkirk - to visit the Capital.

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