Haymarket Morrison Link redevelopment

Haymarket Redevelopment, Former car park site building, Tiger Developments, Morrison Street Goods Yard project

Haymarket Morrison Link Edinburgh

Morrison Link Edinburgh, Scotland: Architecture design by Richard Murphy Architects

post updated 27 October 2023
Design: Richard Murphy Architects

The Haymarket

Haymarket Development

Haymarket Morrison Link Development

Haymarket Consultation Centre

Tiger Developments has opened a consultation centre at Morrison Street Goods Yard project. It features an exhibition & short film, part of the ongoing public information & consultation programme by owner Tiger Developments for The Haymarket

Haymarket Options

Improved public space, a transport interchange and better pedestrian links are all options the public are being asked to consider for the Haymarket area to tie-in with the redevelopment of the train station.

City of Edinburgh Council feasibility study: three conceptual ideas for public consultation: Haymarket Redevelopment

Haymarket Hotel

Haymarket Edinburgh – Property News Nov 2006
CDA & Sutherland Hussey Architects join Haymarket masterplanner Richard Murphy Architects following a series of recent interviews with local architects 091106

Haymarket Edinburgh – Property News Aug 2006
Richard Murphy Architects to be the architects for Tiger Developments, winning this prestigious project at the western entry to Edinburgh, formerly masterplanned by Reiach and Hall Architects and the site of a controversial Architecture Review competition.

Thirteen bids were received, four reported as being shortlisted. Tiger Developments are part of O’Flynn Construction Group.

Other projects by Tiger Developments include City West Leeds and Harbour Island Docklands.

Haymarket Edinburgh – Property News 2006
Due to Edinburgh City Council financial issues – namely locating finance for female employees underpaid for years – EDI were reportedly disbursing of some of their portfolio in Spring 2006. The Haymarket site has planning permission for a design by Reiach and Hall Architects but the site went under offer by Jones Lang LaSalle, with a closing date reported as 23 Jun 2006. This is a major site and will attract interest from architects outwith Scotland. Further announcements are expected later in Summer.

Reiach and Hall Architects’ Scheme:

Tiger Developments Edinburgh design by Reiach and Hall Architects
EDI Project image from Reiach and Hall Architects

Morrison Street Goods Yard – News Update
Clearance of site to form comprehensive redevelopment incl. regrading for EDI Group by Reiach and Hall: minded to Grant 290306, submitted Apr 2001

Haymarket Edinburgh – Mar 2006 Building Update
Due to go back to the market following decisions taken by CEC re funding for Edinburgh and EDI’s assets

Morrison Link – Building PR: from EDI 11 Aug 2004
Haymarket gateway scheme gets the green light

Haymarket Morrison Link building
building image by Pixel Image

A major new office development and spectacular public arcade on a derelict site in Edinburgh’s city centre today (11.08.04) got the green light from councillors on the planning committee.

The Haymarket – as the scheme is known – will offer a lively business, shopping and leisure hub at the western gateway to the city centre. Offices, shops, bars and cafés will be ranged around a spectacular, European-style, 5-storey public arcade and square.

Haymarket Morrison Link by EDI
Haymarket Gateway, Edinburgh – interior

Located on the former Morrison Street goods yard – one of the last major gap sites in Edinburgh’s centre – the scheme is set to regenerate a site that has lain almost derelict for 40 years. EDI believe that the landmark development has the potential to energise the local area and provide a route through the city’s growing financial district.
1 Morrison Link
The Haymarket project – galleria

Phase 1 of the development will offer 32,487 sq m of offices, retail, leisure, licensed premises and car parking on a 1.767 ha site close to Haymarket Station. There will be a “city-store” style supermarket accessed from the arcade via an open courtyard.

Edinburgh Haymarket Morrison Link
Haymarket Gateway, Edinburgh

The architecture of this first phase of the development is of a high quality contemporary design by Edinburgh-based architects, Reiach and Hall. The firm swept the board at this year’s Scottish Design Awards, winning an unprecedented five awards including Architect of the Year 2004 for Neil Gillespie, design director of Reiach and Hall.
In developing their proposals for The Haymaket, Reiach and Hall studied arcades across the UK and Europe to incorporate into their design the elements that give famous European arcades their special qualities. These include excellent lighting and high quality finishes on shop fronts and flooring.

Haymarket Morrison Link Edinburgh
Haymarket, Edinburgh: 1 Morrison Link interior

The Haymarket arcade, which will extend to the roof of the building and will be lit by a glass roof, will be lined by shops and cafes on two levels. The developers hope that it will also provide a striking indoor space suitable for music and theatre performances and events such as tea dances or lectures.

The Haymarket: gateway scheme gets the green light
The scheme sits on a prominent corner site alongside two conservation areas and the World Heritage Site of Edinburgh’s city centre. Following its earlier refusal by the planning committee, the design of the scheme was amended to meet the concerns expressed.
Asked about the new development, EDI Chief Executive Ian Wall said: “This important site, one of the last gap sites in the city centre, demands a development of character, scale and ambition to mark the western edge of Edinburgh’s city centre. We believe that our Haymarket proposal meets this challenge.

“We are also confident that it will attract employers looking for high-quality, city-centre office space. With increasing competition from ambitious cities across the UK and Europe, these companies are
now more mobile than ever. They will choose to locate to whatever city offers the modern office space they need, alongside a great environment and excellent transport links. When the development is completed, 5,000 people will work there.”

Jeremy Smart, project director added, “The striking façade and public arcade will create a new landmark at the western gateway to the city. All the best arcades in European cities are both elegant and magical and offer an enjoyable space for people to work, shop or pass the time of day in. We plan that the Haymarket will have the special qualities of the best European arcades.”

This first phase, designed by architects Reiach and Hall will be complemented by two further phases, to be designed by Page & Park Architects and Allan Murray Architects respectively. Ian White Associates are acting as landscape architects on all phases and sustainability consultants Third Wave are employed to ensure that the building anticipates best environmental practice on issues such as waste and energy use.

Morrison Link, Haymarket – Building PR by EDI 11 Aug 2004

The EDI Group Limited is a private company which is 100% owned by City of Edinburgh Council. The EDI Group carries out a range of property development from office and retail through factories to housing for the homeless. It combines a commercial approach with a commitment to bringing architectural, environmental and social benefits to and through its projects. EDI’s wide ranging project portfolio includes office developments, retail properties within Edinburgh’s Old Town, Edinburgh Park, the long-term regeneration of Craigmillar, Princes Street Galleries and residential schemes throughout Edinburgh. It operates mainly in the Edinburgh City region, but it has also a presence in Glasgow and North Ayrshire.

Haymarket – Team:
Project Manager – Summerfield Robb Clark
Architects – Reiach and Hall, Page & Park, Allan Murray Architects
Space Planning Consultant – BDG McColl
Landscape Architect – Ian White Associates
Structural Engineer – Cundall Johnston & Partners
Services Engineer – Cundall Johnston & Partners
Cost Control – Gleeds
Traffic Consultant – Colin Buchanan & Partners
Environmental Consultant – Environ
Sustainability Consultant – Third Wave
Fire Consultant – Jeremy Gardner Associates
Acoustician – Robin Mackenzie Partnership
Planning Supervisor – Cundall Johnston & Partners
Letting Agents – Montagu Evans, Jones Lang Lasalle
Extranet Service Provider – 4 Projects

The space in Haymarket Phase 1 of the development is divided as follows (all measurements in sqm):
Retail 4,456 (including 1,496 for a supermarket)
Leisure 1,043
Office 20,121
Car parking 2,924 (90 spaces)
Arcade/courtyard 1,256

Background to Haymarket:
Morrison Link proposals refused on 6 Nov 2003 by CEC Planning 6 votes to 5. Project by Reiach and Hall Architects for EDI reported to be refused partly due to mix of uses. The issue of an Architecture Centre was apparently discussed, possibly recalling the original AR competition; affected by developments at Haymarket Station.

Refused Planning Consent Nov 2003
Planning Submission Jun 2003

Phase 1 – Reiach and Hall Architects
Phase 2 – Page & Park Architects
Phase 3 – Allan Murray Architects

Strong and dense proposals including Galleria parallel to Morrison St: it is important that the new route is open 24 hrs a day – unlike some in The Exchange, Edinburgh – and efficiently linked to the railway station.

Morrison Street car park site purchased by EDI (reported to be concluding 2003) and mixed use retail-orientated scheme to be developed by EDI: unveiling of images in mid-Sep 2002 with comments by Olle Wiig of Narud Stokke Wiig created controversy which snowballed with Norwegian Consulate + RFACS representations, then involvement of Cockburn, EWHT, etc. in late Sep 2002.

News Item re 1 Morrison Link – Apr 2004

Haymarket, Edinburgh

The EDI Group has resubmitted its proposals for a major office and retail development at Haymarket to the planning authorities.

Buredi [partnership between The Burrell Company and EDI] are also involved in the refurbishment of the former Traverse Theatre, West Bow (east end of Grassmarket) with Lee Boyd Architects and redevelopment of the former Greyfriars Hostel into contemporary residential apartments.

On the other side of Lothian Road Buredi are working with Allan Murray Architects to create a development around a ‘new street’ in the Fountainbridge district located on vacant land to the south of Fountainbridge Brewery.

Haymarket – Morrison Link PR: Dec 2005

Scottish Ministers today (20/12/05) approved a major new office development and spectacular public arcade by EDI that is set to breathe new life into a derelict site in Edinburgh’s city centre following an extensive Public Inquiry.
Ian Wall, Chief Executive of EDI said:
“We are very pleased with the outcome of the Public Inquiry. We appointed a very strong design team, gave them a demanding commercial and social brief and worked closely with the Council planning department to produce a great scheme. It is gratifying to see this recognised by the Minister.

“It is important also because the lack of a planning approval for Phase 1 has held up our discussions with hotel operators for development of the next phase: these can now proceed.”

Located on the former Morrison Street goods yard – one of the last major gap sites in Edinburgh’s centre – the scheme is set to regenerate a site that has lain almost derelict for 40 years.

The scheme will offer offices, shops, bars and cafés ranged around a spectacular, European-style, 5-storey public arcade and square.

Designed by the award winning firm of Edinburgh architects, Reiach and Hall, Phase 1 of the development will offer 32,487 sq m of offices, retail, leisure, licensed premises and car parking on a 1.767 ha site close to Haymarket Station. There will be a “city-store” style supermarket accessed from the arcade via the new square.

The Haymarket arcade, which will extend to the roof of the building and will be lit by a glass roof, will be lined by shops and cafes on two levels. In developing their proposals, Reiach and Hall studied arcades across the UK and Europe, incorporating into their design the elements that give famous European arcades their special qualities.

EDI Haymarket – PR Sep 2002

NEW WESTERN “GATEWAY” UNVEILED FOR EDINBURGH
Haymarket, Edinburgh – Aug 29 2002
Plans for a major new development that will provide a landmark western “gateway” to Edinburgh city centre were unveiled today.
The development at Morrison Street goods yard, which will see award-winning developers EDI together with City of Edinburgh Council, redefining Haymarket as a vibrant and accessible area of the Capital – both for business and leisure.
The project will benefit also other parts of Edinburgh, with a large chunk of the profits earmarked for investment in regeneration areas across the city.
The Morrison Link development is planned for three phases, with the first phase alone set to see investment of around £70 million to provide new offices, shops, restaurants and bars, and lively new public squares and thoroughfares.
Central to the design is a five storey Haymarket arcade, with a grand portal entrance , running the length of the site and leading to, in the middle, a spacious plaza surrounded by shops and cafes.

EDI has a proud track record of success in Edinburgh, with partnership projects such as the successful Gyle Shopping Centre, Clocktower Estate and Edinburgh Park which was recently named as one of Europe’s leading business locations.
Leading firms of Scottish architects are to be involved throughout the three phases of the work with the project set to showcase the very best of national talent.

The first phase of the Haymarket Project will involve:
200,000 sq ft of top grade offices
More than 35,000 sq ft of retail/leisure space
“Metro” style food shopping
A new square, lined with cafes, bars and shops

New public thoroughfares linking to the city’s financial district and city centre with Haymarket Rail Station.
The landmark development will be superbly well served by transport links, with ease of access to main roads out to the west of the city and the close proximity of Haymarket railway station.

EDI Chair, Lezley Cameron, said: “The proposals would see the last major city centre gap site in Edinburgh developed in the most positive of ways.
“Our record of working with the council shows that we deliver the highest quality of developments for the city, a benchmark against which others can be measured. Edinburgh Park, for example, is quite simply the best business park in Scotland – by a long way.

“This development will follow that tradition of excellence, and will showcase that the best that Scotland has to offer in terms of the design and construction of a major new city block which will stand comparison with the best.
“The proposal will bring life and vitality back to Haymarket, an area which has really lost definition as part of the city despite its role as a major gateway from the west. The development will provide office space of the highest quality -within an imaginative and innovative scheme which combines with high quality shops, cafes, restaurants and public areas.”

In addition, the development will create jobs. Once the three phases of development are completed, around 5000 people are likely to work on the site.
Ian Wall, Chief Executive of EDI added: “The site is the gateway into Edinburgh from the west. That means we want to ensure that the quality of development matches our aspirations for such a key site, which will transform this part of the city.
The design by Edinburgh architects Reiach & Hall responds to the surrounding developments in a variety of ways whilst creating a keynote building whose five storey entrance represents the confidence and strength of the building. The external materials include sandstone with the arcade being of natural stone and wood.

Further info re Haymarket, Edinburgh: EDI – 0131 652 3666

EDI Group was established by the City of Edinburgh Council in 1988 to carry out the development of Edinburgh Park, and since then has worked on most forms of property from office and retail through to factories and housing for the homeless. One of the EDI Group’s key roles is to act in partnership with the public and/or private sector on specific projects which are not only profitable but bring added value in respect of architectural, environmental and economic development benefits.

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh

Haymarket Goods Yard

Comments / photos for the Haymarket Development Edinburgh page welcome