A new mixed-use residential development in the heart of one of Edinburgh’s most popular communities, Canonmills, has submitted planning permission to redevelop Beaverhall House.
Appointed as Civil and Structural Engineers for developer HUB, Civic Engineers will form part of the design team delivering the high-quality sustainable housing scheme, which includes 205 apartments, as well as a dedicated place for the area’s vibrant creative community with purpose built commercial space for local creative businesses.
The proposals will replace an existing warehouse building, with the 1.25-acre Beaverhall House site to also include 52 affordable homes, a ground floor reserved for studio space, a large roof terrace and courtyards for residents to enjoy outside space.
The brownfield city centre location will open up the popular Canonmills area and celebrate its flourishing creative community. Increasing opportunities for people to engage with local creative businesses, Beaverhall House will see the previously underutilised building re-imagined, thanks to help from locals who have contributed to design plans throughout the process.
Design work began on the eight storey new-build back in August 2021, and following a number of pre-application consultation meetings with the Edinburgh City Council planning department and community members, planning permission for the development was granted in November 2022.
Re-use of the existing structure and warehouse was considered in terms of both feasibility and sustainability at the early stages of the project, but with extensive remedial works required to the 50-year-old building, a 5 storey vertical extension and limits on building height due to daylight, the decision was made to replace the existing warehouse. Working with an experienced design team that included Architect Shed KM, Cost Consultant and Project Manager Circle, Landscape Architect MRG Studio, M&E Engineer Atelier Ten and Planning Consultant Turley, our team’s contribution to this special project will include a range of services including permanent works design, SER certification and drainage design. As part of stage 2 design works (now completed) Civic Engineers and Architect Shed KM revisited the design, collaborating to alter spans and structural thickness to ensure floor to floor height available is achievable. We also carried out a review of Beaverhall Road works to assess how we can improve the street’s functionality. An on-site drainage and exceedance strategy has also been developed, due to the site location and risk of flooding from the Water of Leith.
With planning now submitted, the team await to hear if the proposals are given the go-ahead. A scheme with people, community and creativity at the heart of its vision, Beaverhall House, Cannomills promises to celebrate and strengthen Edinburgh’s special creative community.
