There will be three days of pop in consultation events for anyone living in Liberton from Monday to see plans for the former hospital.
This is the second community engagement about the hospital which is to be converted into 400 new homes in Liberton, a significant number of which will be accessible and affordable for social or mid-market rent. The pop ups will be held in an illuminated gazebo which will move around the area.
In partnership with Anderson Bell + Christie, HTA landscape architects, G3 Consulting Engineers and arts organisation WAVEparticle, the pop-up events will give those living in the local area the opportunity to hear about plans and share views. T
he events will take place throughout the day on Monday 29, Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 January in the Malbet, Ellen’s Glen and Carnbee areas of Liberton and an online survey is also available.
New houses are planned for the grounds of the hospital and the former Blood Transfusion Centre after the council bought the land from NHS Lothian. The plans are to keep as many features of the historic Victorian hospital as possible.
It will be March 2025 before all the NHS services move out.
Councillor Jane Meagher, Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “For over 100 years Edinburgh residents have been cared for under the roof of Liberton Hospital. I’m delighted that we’ll be able to pay that care forward as we tackle our housing emergency and convert the site into much needed new homes.
“We’re committed to putting care-based housing at the centre of this redevelopment and I’d like to thank our partners at the NHS for working with us to secure the land. It has been many years in the making.
“By demolishing the 1960s built extensions, including the disused Blood Transfusion Service, we’ll be able to design an accessible green neighbourhood of low-carbon housing from scratch. This should help lots of people with specialist needs particularly older residents to live comfortably and with independence. Plus, it will allow us support people who are in desperate housing need as we’re determined to make more than half of the homes on site affordable or social rent.
“Tackling poverty and striving for net zero are two of the biggest priorities for the council and we must do everything within our power to work against the housing crisis. This project supports all of these aims. I’m really looking forward to seeing the plans take shape and for the community to have a real say.”
Sarah Brown, Senior Architect at Anderson Bell + Christie, said: “Community consultation events such as this are extremely important as they give the local community a chance to share their opinions and help shape a future neighbourhood.
“We’re hoping we will meet and talk with plenty of local residents on what they’d like to see from this project, so we can support on a range of housing needs and set them within a rich and beautiful greenspace.”
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