Quartermile

Quartermile is the marketing name given to the mixed use redevelopment of the former Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh site, in Lauriston, Edinburgh. The project is a joint venture between Gladedale Group and the Bank of Scotland. The scheme comprises a mixture of new build apartments, apartments converted from the existing hospital buildings, new build offices, affordable housing, and retail/leisure uses.

For the race track, see dragstrip.

Simpson Loan in the Quartermile Development

Design

Foster and Partners are the architects for the new build apartments and offices.[1] The former main hospital buildings, primarily by architect David Bryce, are being converted by Comprehensive Design Architects (CDA).

Once complete, Quartermile will contain more than 900 apartments, 30,000 square metres (320,000 sq ft) of Grade A office accommodation, 10,000 square metres (110,000 sq ft) of retail and leisure space and 7 acres (2.8 ha) of open landscaping.[2] Quartermile also overlooks and is connected to The Meadows, a large public open space.

Additional to the Foster and Partners planning permission, the University of Edinburgh has submitted a further application for a development within the central Royal Infirmary building. This facility is designed to transform the existing Old Royal Infirmary Surgical Hospital Building which is Category A listed. At April 2018 Planning applications had already been approved for enabling works, asbestos removal and limited demolition works. The main application combines restoration of the former ward blocks and clocktower with new accommodation and a public square facing Lauriston Place. This part of the development is broadly outlined in a project called Edinburgh Futures Institute.[3][4]

History

The former surgical building was at one stage intended to become a 5 star hotel, designed by Richard Murphy architects, but no operator was found to run the hotel, this was then intended for conversion to apartments.[5] Richard Murphy architects were at that stage still however involved with the site and were considering designing affordable housing for the site.[6]

Construction at the western end progressing as of May 2014

The site was sold by the Lothian University Hospitals Trust in 2001 to a joint venture between Bank of Scotland, Taylor Woodrow and Kilmartin Property Group for around GB£35 million, having previously been used for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.[7] Gladedale Capital bought out Taylor Woodrow’s 50 per cent stake in 2005, while Kilmartin Property Group went into administration in 2010.[7]

The development was sold by Lloyds Banking Group to property investor Moorfield in September 2013.[8][9]

Suggestions by the International Council on Monuments and Sites that the impact of the development could cause Edinburgh to lose its World Heritage Site status[10] were vigorously denied by City of Edinburgh council.[11]

References
  1. "Quartermile Masterplan". Foster and Partners. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  2. "Appendix 5: Case Studies Profile". The Scottish Government. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  3. https://www.bennettsassociates.com/news/edinburgh-futures-institute/
  4. https://efi.ed.ac.uk/the-building/
  5. "A change of formula for Quartermile". The Scotsman. 22 November 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  6. "Wharton Square Housing at Quartermile (ex Royal Infirmary), Edinburgh". Richard Murphy Architects. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  7. "Edinburgh Quartermile scheme set for £170m boost". The Scotsman. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  8. "Edinburgh Quartermile scheme sold to Moorfield". The Scotsman. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  9. "Moorfield - Scotland, Moorfield Group buys Quartermile in Edinburgh". Propertymall.com. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  10. "UN slams capital's Quartermile". The Scotsman. 4 March 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  11. "UN not opposed to capital project". The Scotsman. 10 March 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2014.

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