Award winner for best housing project
On the wedge
Construction finally started in January this year of the first 130 new homes in Upper Strand on the waterfront at Granton, the old harbour on the Firth of Forth two miles NW of Edinburgh’s city centre. The first residents should be able to move in before the end of the year, according to John Forbes, development director of Upper Strand Developments, a joint venture between the Burrell Company and Places for People, one of the UK’s largest housing and community regeneration agencies, who will use their Edinvar Housing Association to manage the rented properties,
This first phase will have 104 apartments for sale and 26 affordable homes for key workers to rent. A further five phases to be developed over the next five years will bring to 500 the number of new homes the partnership will build at Granton as part of the City’s ambitious Waterfront Edinburgh project to regenerate 346 acres of derelict industrial land over the next 15 years as a high-density mixed-use development.
Granton is set to become Edinburgh’s new New Town, with homes for 20,000 people and jobs for 17,000 people. In addition to housing and business space, there will be large areas of parkland, facilities for leisure and recreation, a primary school and a marina. The first perspectives for Upper Strand seen here show the clean lines and contemporary forms being developed from the master plan prepared by Page + Park Architects, which received planning approval in August 2002.
Reiach and Hall Architects have designed two linear housing forms for what is called the Eastern Wedge, while Elder & Cannon Architects have designed two terraces for the Western Edge, which will create a distinct place and space.
The judges look forward to seeing this first phase entered next year in a different category when it is complete.
HomeBuilder: UPPER STRAND DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
a joint venture between:
THE BURRELL COMPANY LIMITED
174 High Street, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1QS
Tel 0131 220 3034 Fax 0131 220 2545
Contact: John Forbes, Development Director
Email: john@theburrellcompany.co.uk
Website: www.upperstrand.co.uk
and
THE PLACES FOR PEOPLE GROUP
Wellgate House, 200 Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1NQ
Tel 0131 243 3040 Fax 0131 243 2046
Website: www.placesforpeople.co.uk
Architects: REIACH AND HALL ARCHITECTS
6 Darnaway Street, Edinburgh EH3 6BG
Tel 0131 225 8444 Fax 0131 225 5079
Contact: Joanna Roxburgh, Associate
Email: jo.roxburgh@reiachandhall.co.uk
Website: www.reiachandhall.co.uk
and
ELDER & CANNON ARCHITECTS
40 Berkeley Street, Glasgow G3 7DW
Tel 0141 204 1833 Fax 0141 204 1844
Contact: Tom Connolly, Principal
Email: tom@elder-cannon.co.uk
Website: www.elderandcannon.com