Edinburgh's abandoned World War One barracks with views of Forth Rail Bridge to be converted to affordable homes

The main blocks will be renovated into 49 mid-market flats and a café.

Abandoned Edinburgh World War One barracks with stunning views of the Forth Rail Bridge are set to be converted into nearly 50 new affordable homes.

Work is set to begin to redevelop buildings at the derelict naval base at Port Edgar, under the Queensferry Crossing, after ambitious plans were given the go-ahead by councillors. As part of the project the old guard’s house will be turned into a serviced holiday apartment, while the former air raid shelter will become a ‘children’s play feature’ in a bid to retain elements of the site’s historical significance.

Some small buildings will be demolished to achieve an “acceptable residential layout” however all the main two-storey accommodation blocks will be kept in place and renovated to form 49 mid-market flats and a ‘café/restaurant’. The barracks were in use by the navy until 1927 and thereafter were repurposed as a holiday camp for unemployed people, a minesweeper training base, storage and assembly for the Forth Road Bridge’s construction during the 50s and a storage site for the Museum of Scotland before it was completely vacated for the Queensferry Crossing being built. The site has also been “subject to vandalism,” a report stated.

Plans by Lar Housing approved

Developers Lar Housing, which specialises in providing “affordable rent housing specifically in high demand areas”, said it had held discussions with the police about installing “temporary measures” to address “historic anti-social behaviour in and around the site”. In plans put to the council it said all the two-storey accommodation blocks were “of robust construction” and “in reasonable structural condition”.

It added: “The site and existing buildings have been carefully analysed and the design carried out to achieve a successful residential development by reusing the existing buildings, prioritising retention of listed buildings in favour of demolition and new buildings. The selective demolition is proposed only where absolutely necessary to meet the requirements of the Edinburgh Design guide to make a successful residential use of the site.

“Lar has received extremely positive feedback so far from the local community, local, and national organisations for the proposed redevelopment of this site. As a conversion of existing derelict buildings, this site can be delivered in much shorter time-scales than new-build developments, which will assist in the much needed delivery of new, affordable, energy efficient homes, whilst delivering green homes by removing carbon emissions from construction by retaining the embodied carbon in the existing buildings rather than demolishing and constructing new buildings.”

Edinburgh council planners recommended the plans for approval and has ordered developers to pay nearly £800,000 towards local education, healthcare and transport infrastructure. Councillors on the Development Management Sub-Committee unanimously granted planning permission on Wednesday, 4 October.