Masterplan sees a reinvigorated community
When you mention Fountainbridge, many long-term Edinburgh residents think of the old Scottish and Newcastle brewery and other industries in the area.
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But times have changed, and now a fresh face is emerging in this historic community.
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The area is also well known as the birthplace of Sir Sean Connery, who is excited about the changes in his old neighbourhood.
“Growing up in Fountainbridge played a major part in my early experiences of Edinburgh,” said Sean.
“Its industrial legacy left an important imprint on my life – and on the rest of the city. I am pleased that now, at last, the walls are coming down, and the area will be opened up to be part of the city.”
How do we see the old place shaping up?
The Fountainbridge Masterplan, which covers 32.5 hectares, has been developed co-operatively, involving the local community as much as possible.
The Masterplan and plans from the developers themselves outline the new look for Fountainbridge, including:
- plenty of green space, including tree-lined boulevards and a public park
- new buildings built in a style and with materials which fit into the community
- a mix of housing, including at least 25 per cent affordable housing in larger developments
- thousands of square feet of office space, providing the possibility of thousands of new jobs
[IMG2] - a mixture of shops, including a local supermarket, cafés and restaurants
- improved links to surrounding communities by foot, cycle and car, including boulevards linking Fountainbridge and the Western Approach Road, and new cycle and footpaths
- underground car parking
- an enhanced Union Canal with more mooring facilities and more canal-side development (as already seen in the Edinburgh Quay development), as well as more footbridges
- a new high school, if required, within the next ten years.
Edinburgh Quay The Edinburgh Quay was the first development in the Fountainbridge area. This highly successful development transformed the area with a mix of flats, office space, restaurants and bars. It won both the Best Regeneration Project in Scotland at the Scottish Design Awards, and the Best Mixed-Use Development at the Scottish Property Awards The next stage will provide canal-side housing on the historic Lochrin Basin site, along with underground car parking and three commercial units. Springside Springside is being built on eight acres of the former Scottish & Newcastle site. There will be 600 one, two, and three-bedroom homes as well as two office buildings with enough office space for 2,500 workers plus shops, cafés and restaurants. A third of the space will be devoted to green and open space. A supermarket and a 314-room student residence are also planned, along with a 650-space car park. Fountainbridge’s industrial history - Brewing has taken place in Fountainbridge since at least the 18th century.
- The North British Rubber Works had a large manufacturing plant here.
- St Cuthbert’s Co-op had a dairy with horse-drawn milk deliveries taking place until 1985. Sean Connery was a milkman with the Co-op in the 1940s and 50s
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