A temporary community services hub is being set up at 165a Leith Walk which was the old tram depot.
The building there is deemed ‘at risk’ but now in a £1.3m project the council and the Scottish Government will provide space for artists and entrepreneurs. The building will be stripped back to its shell and will be refurbished ready for NHS Lothian and Capital City Partnerships to move in this autumn.
Shipping containers will be fitted out by social enterprise Rebuild to provide the artists’ space. Art and Education Trust Out of the Blue will manage them and the community hub with the council.
Cllr Kate Campbell, Housing and Economy Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is an amazing project which has had a huge amount of community involvement.
“Leith Walk is one of the most densely populated and fastest growing places in Scotland, with a strong sense of identity and an incredibly engaged community. This project will create much needed space for local artists and other creative entrepreneurs as well as providing valuable community space. It is also great to see training and job opportunities as part of the project.”
Marcus Weurman, Hub South East’s Development Manager said: “Hub South East has been involved from the very start, proposing ideas for the development and helping the Council secure funding, so it’s exciting to have followed the journey this far and to see work start on site on the Leith Meanwhile project.
“This is true partnership working in action. It’s a real opportunity after 60 years to turn this site back into a space that can be used meaningfully for the benefit of the local community and we’re incredibly proud to be involved.”
A longer term plan for the site will be developed in due course.
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