Granton waterfront set for 100 new homes

An artist's impression of Places for People's Waterfront Avenue scheme. Picture: comp

Plans have been submitted for a mix of three- to four-storey townhouses and two seven-storey apartment blocks on derelict land beside Waterfront Avenue.

The application has renewed hopes for fresh development in the area after the economic crash stalled initial blueprints – drawn up in December 2000 – for a major transformation aimed at creating a “waterfront of international stature”.

And it comes as city planning chiefs pushed through a revised masterplan for the new Edinburgh Marina development at Granton Harbour just before Christmas, paving the way for 2000 homes to be built alongside a 123-bed “conference and spa hotel” and 300-berth marina.

Places for People, the developer behind the Waterfront Avenue scheme, insisted it was “delighted” to be in a position to move forward with its plans.

But community leaders warned residents had become disillusioned after seeing so few projects delivered in the district over the last decade.

Willie Black, secretary of West Pilton and West Granton community council, said there was hope the latest development could lead to a boom in activity in the coming years.

But he added: “There’s a lot of mistrust of developers in this area because we were promised so much and it never come to be.

“We could see quite a huge shift in the next two or three years.

“But if that shift is just for the developers and not for the community, then we will get to a stage like they have at Newhaven, where they have built things but it’s been of very little benefit to locals.

“We want sustainability. We don’t want 6000 plastic boxes. We want decent houses that people want to live in.”

The Waterfront Avenue plans are the second phase of a wider development of 432 homes set to be delivered by Places for People. The first phase, at the Upper Strand, saw 131 houses constructed in 2006, consisting of four-storey apartment blocks and an 11-storey tower.

A third phase will see a further 74 homes built nearby, while a fourth phase will deliver 127 apartments.

A Places for People spokeswoman said: “It was always Places for People’s intention to provide further housing in this area, but development unfortunately stalled following the recession.

“We are delighted to now be in a position to move forward with our plans.

“The second phase, the focus of the planning application, will see the development of 100 properties for sale. This will include 33 townhouses, and two apartment blocks made up of 30 and 37 apartments.

“The contemporary style and character of the building and townhouses have been designed to sit comfortably within the surrounding area.

“Landscaping will also ensure that there is green space for residents to enjoy.”

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