Search launched for developer to help regenerate Edinburgh's Fountain brewery site

COUNCIL chiefs have launched a search for a developer to join them in a major regeneration of Fountainbridge.

More than 400 new homes and a 10,000 sq metre office building aimed at growing technology companies are planned for the former Fountain Brewery site, along with shops, eateries and space for social enterprises.

The council has invited expressions of interest from potential developers and hopes to appoint a partner by next summer with construction due to begin in spring 2021.

The development site is the land between Fountainbridge and the Union Canal, northeast of Viewforth and previously known as India Quay. It is adjacent to the “New Fountainbridge” site being developed by Vastint Hospitality.

Vastint are developing the next-door New Fountainbridge site

The regeneration of Fountainbridge has already seen former industrial land transformed into offices, hotels, flats, and student accommodation, as well as a new home for Boroughmuir High School and the Edinburgh Printmakers cultural hub.

Housing convener Kate Campbell said: ”The new high school and refurbishment of the old rubber factory, now a state of the art HQ for Edinburgh Printmakers, were the first steps in the regeneration of this longstanding gap site.

“This next phase will see hundreds of new homes being built and around 40 per cent of them will be affordable. Fountainbridge has proportionally less social housing than other parts of the city so this is crucial to making sure that we have strong, mixed communities across our city.

“We have the opportunity to deliver office space on part of the site, some of which will be available for social enterprises and which will have a strong focus on the emerging tech sector, supporting our ambition to be the data driven capital of Europe and creating well paid, skilled jobs.

“We’re also looking at a low or zero carbon energy solution for the site which is vital to our commitment to reach net zero carbon by 2030. And we’re keeping local people involved at every stage of this process, listening to what they want and need for their community. Their input is strongly reflected in the plans.”