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.
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). 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, and is consequently now intended for conversion to apartments.[2] Richard Murphy architects are still however involved with the site, as they are set to design affordable housing for the site.[3]
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.[4] Quartermile also overlooks and is connected to The Meadows, a large public open space.
History
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 £35 million, having previously been used for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.[5] Gladedale Capital bought out Taylor Woodrow’s 50 per cent stake in 2005, while Kilmartin Property Group went into administration in 2010.[5]
The development was sold by Lloyds Banking Group to property investor Moorfield in September 2013.[6][7]
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[8] were was vigorously denied by City of Edinburgh council.[9]
References
- ^ "Quartermile Masterplan". Foster and Partners. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "A change of formula for Quartermile". The Scotsman. 22 November 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "Wharton Square Housing at Quartermile (ex Royal Infirmary), Edinburgh". Richard Murphy Architects. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "Appendix 5: Case Studies Profile". The Scottish Government. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ a b "Edinburgh Quartermile scheme set for £170m boost". The Scotsman. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "Edinburgh Quartermile scheme sold to Moorfield". The Scotsman. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "Moorfield - Scotland, Moorfield Group buys Quartermile in Edinburgh". Propertymall.com. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "UN slams capital's Quartermile". The Scotsman. 4 March 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "UN not opposed to capital project". The Scotsman. 10 March 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
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