Council buys Granton Waterfront site from National Grid

March 15, 2018 10:23 am

The council has announced today that it has agreed terms with National Grid only earlier this week to buy the former National Grid site in Granton which it regards as one of the seven key strategic development areas. It identified The Waterfront in the City Region Deal as important to its plans for development of the city.

This aerial shot shows the 110 acre site which was offered for sale by National Grid. The council have bought a part of this.

This is a 66 acre site where the iconic gas holder is sited as well as the former Granton Railway Station. The council now want to use the land for new homes for people on low and middle incomes.

Permission was granted for the Forthquarter redevelopment in 2001 permitting 2,000 homes of various sizes as well as office and mixed use development. Some of this has been built, including 350 affordable homes. But the original planning permission expired in 2013 and although an extension was applied for to 2023 that application awaits determination.

Depute Leader, Cammy Day, said: “This is a hugely important site for the city’s economy and its acquisition is a key milestone in our plans to make Granton’s Waterfront a great place to live and work. It will also make a significant contribution to our ambitious plans to build 20,000 affordable and low-cost homes over the next decade.

“Despite enormous global challenges the city’s economy and population continues to grow and we want everyone in the city to benefit from this. I look forward to working with the local community, partners and colleagues from Scottish Government to shape our plans to develop the site.”

Benjamin Gaunt, from National Grid Property, said: “National Grid has been working in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council for many years to develop Granton Waterfront, successfully bringing a number of projects in the area to fruition. We are delighted the Council has acquired Granton Waterfront and will be taking the site through to the next stage of development.”

Over the last decade the Council and its partners have invested over £309m in the regeneration of North Edinburgh, delivering nearly 2,200 homes, retail, a new school, Craigroyston Community High and a new health and social care hub, the Pennywell All Care Centre.