£180 million regeneration starts with new multi-million pound primary school

Construction of a multi-million pound primary school campus in Craigmillar has started, heralding the start of the area’s £180 million regeneration.

Two primaries, St Francis RC and Niddrie Mill, will share the site with an expected joint roll of around 700 when the building opens in 2008.

An eye-catching, horseshoe shaped central building will bring both schools together, offering a range of communal facilities such as sports halls and dining areas. There will be a wide range of classrooms, art and technology facilities, a library, computer suite and assembly hall – as well as outdoor play parks and all-weather sports pitches.

Outside school hours, everyone in Craigmillar will be able to use and enjoy the campus, with communal facilities including the central halls, play-park and two playing fields.

The new school campus sits at the heart of Wauchope Square where work on the first home-building phase is likely to start in early spring.

This will include 61 private homes for sale and 13 housing association homes for rent.

PARC, the company driving the regeneration of the area, has a master plan to develop Wauchope Square that extends to some 400 new homes. Overall more than 3,000 new homes will drive the regeneration of Craigmillar over 15 years.

This will include a new town centre, more new primary schools, a community high school and library, and 150-acres of surrounding green space.