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Edinburgh Building News 2025: Architecture

post updated 12 June 2025

12 June 2025

Accelerate to Zero Awards News

The Accelerate to Zero Awards are back for their third year to recognise the businesses, organisations, and individuals making the most significant contributions to decarbonising the built environment and supporting the just transition to a zero carbon built environment. This year, the awards will take place on the evening of Thursday, 6th November, at Oran Mor in Glasgow, following the International Retrofit Summit, which is part of BE-ST Fest.

Architectural Awards

9 June 2025

Homes for Scotland secures five “Future Planners” bursaries to help attract talent into vital profession

The resourcing of the planning system is a widely acknowledged challenge, particularly in relation to the delivery of much-needed new homes.

With an estimated need for around 700 new planners over the next 10-15 years, sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS) secured five new “Future Planners” bursaries totalling £25,000 to help attract talent from a variety of disciplines into this vital profession by assisting with course fees and living expenses as well as providing mentoring opportunities.

The new bursaries will be administered by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and augment the 30 already available via Scottish Government grant funding to students on RTPI-accredited Planning Masters courses across Scotland’s three planning schools (University of Glasgow, University of Dundee and Heriot-Watt University) for the 2025/26 academic year. The organisations behind the donations are Brodies, Mac Mic Group, Miller Homes, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey.

HFS Director of Planning Kevin Murphy said:

“At a time when the Scottish planning system has never been under greater pressure it is important to help support the next generation of planners into what are critical careers. In what is our 25th anniversary year, HFS is delighted to have facilitated these five new bursaries with the generous support of members and to be part of the solution to addressing what is a vastly under-resourced function.”

RTPI Scotland Director Dr Caroline Brown said:

“At the RTPI, we’re working hard to ensure a continuing pipeline of qualified planners are entering the workforce. The “Future Planners” bursary scheme present an excellent opportunity for students from varied backgrounds to play an important role in shaping the future of planning in Scotland.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to Homes for Scotland and its supporting members. Such partnership is essential if we are to address not only the skills shortage in the planning system but also the housing emergency and ensure Scotland has the homes of all types and tenures required to meet the needs of its population.”

Supporting quotes:

“Brodies is pleased to support the next generation of planners through this postgraduate bursary. With Scotland facing a critical housing shortage, investing in planning talent is essential to delivering the homes our communities urgently need.”
Elaine Farquharson-Black
Partner, Brodies LLP

At Mac Mic Group, we’re deeply committed to addressing Scotland’s housing emergency. As we celebrate our centenary, this initiative underscores our dedication not only to tackling long-term planning challenges but also to nurturing the next generation of talent. Beyond financial support, the bursary recipient will gain invaluable hands-on experience by shadowing our planning team, offering a unique perspective on the entire development process—from securing planning consent to on-site delivery.
Ross Mickel
Group Director at Mac Mic Group, said:

“Miller Homes is proud to support the planners of the future. By providing this backing for training, we’re investing in the next generation who will help shape the sustainable communities of tomorrow.”
David McGrath
Executive Managing Director, Scotland and North, Miller Homes
“Encouraging more people to pursue a career in planning is key to delivering the homes we need. By supporting the next generation of planners, we can help ensure local authorities have the skills and capacity needed to bring forward well-designed, successful and sustainable communities.”
John Roocroft
Regional Chair, Persimmon Scotland and North West England Division

“Scotland needs a robust and dynamic planning system. It is fundamental to fostering sustainable economic growth and enabling thriving communities through the delivery of much-needed all-tenure homes. At Taylor Wimpey, we recognise that attracting new talent to the profession is crucial to driving innovation, expertise, and resilience within the sector. We are looking forward to collaborating with our partner university to deliver an enriching learning experience that equips future planners with the skills and knowledge to shape Scotland’s places of tomorrow.”
Ian Drummond
Divisional Chair, Taylor Wimpey – Scotland, North East and North Yorkshire

“We are delighted that students who are choosing to study our MSc Spatial Planning with Sustainable Urban Design during 2025/26 can benefit from the bursaries being provided by Homes for Scotland members. These are an attractive offering for those who may be considering a career in planning having studied in another complimentary programme or returning to study at a different point in their career. Collaboration by both practice and academia is essential in supporting a vibrant and diverse community of future planners.”
Kirsty Macari
Associate Dean (Education and Student Experience), University of Dundee

“We are delighted at the announcement of this generous support from Homes for Scotland members for students pursuing accredited planning Masters programmes at Heriot-Watt University. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of planning professionals and addressing the critical skills needs of Scotland’s built environment sector. We are deeply grateful for this investment in our students’ futures and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on both individuals and the planning community.
Dr Sacha Hasan
Head of Planning and Real Estate, Heriot-Watt University

“We strongly welcome investment in planning skills which are so vital for the health of the sector through these generous bursaries from Homes for Scotland. The University of Glasgow is committed to its role as a civic university that helps governments, businesses and communities meet complex challenges. Our revised MSc in City Planning responds directly to the rapidly changing planning sector, from digital skills, renewable energy and the retrofitting of our cities for net zero. This bursary will therefore ensure we have more graduates who are well equipped to become future leaders across the built environment sector.”
Dr Andrew Hoolachan
Programme Director City Planning, University of Glasgow

27 May 2025
Shandon homes, Edinburgh Slateford Road

image courtesy of developers

23 May 2025
The Auction Rooms at 22 Queen Street
Design: architect Robert Adam
Renewal Design: Studio LBA ; interiors by Nicola McMurray Design Studio

photo courtesy of architects office
Work is now complete on The Auction Rooms, a distinctive, design-led office development in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town. The project has transformed the former Bonhams Auction House, 22 Queen Street, into one of the city’s most sought-after commercial spaces:

The Auction Rooms at 22 Queen Street

13 May 2025
Rosslyn Castle Building News
Rosslyn Castle Building Renewal, Roslin Glen, Midlothian

photo : Jim Stephenson
Rosslyn Castle stands within the Rosslyn Chapel Precinct, one of Midlothian’s most significant heritage sites. It sits in Roslin Glen, the largest surviving tract of ancient woodland in the area.

7 May 2025
Low-Carbon Campus Building in Dunfermline
Fife College has reveals Scotland’s first net-zero carbon tertiary education facility. This pioneering building development was designed by Edinburgh architectural office Reiach & Hall Architects.

6 May 2025
Leith Housing Development Moves Forward Following Site Acquisition

Progress has been made on a new residential development in Leith, as Cruden Homes and Evantyr Properties form a joint venture to deliver 99 new apartments.

The developers have acquired the former carpet warehouse and light industrial buildings at 124 Salamander Street, with plans to transform the site into a contemporary urban block featuring private balconies and a landscaped central courtyard.

Designed by 7N Architects, the project received planning approval last summer. Of the 99 apartments planned, 35% will be designated as affordable housing. The development also benefits from a rear outlook over Leith Links, adding further appeal to the scheme.

29 April 2025
Mass Timber Centre of Excellence launches at BE-ST Campus

photo courtesy of Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST)
A centre of excellence for mass timber research, innovation and manufacturing was launched today by Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST). Supported by Scottish Funding Council and host institution Edinburgh Napier University, the Innovation Campus at BE-ST will now house £1.5 million pounds of newly acquired, state-of-the-art mass timber post-processing equipment and SuperBlower extraction system:

Mass Timber Centre of Excellence

16 April 2025

HES Partnership Funding to BEFS News

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) awards £574,075 in funding to the Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) as part of the HES Partnership Fund. The Fund supports organisations working to promote, celebrate and enhance Scotland’s rich and diverse heritage:

See the Scottish Architectural News page on e-architect.

26 March 2025

Homes for Scotland welcomes GDP quantification of planning reform in Spring Statement

Sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS), whose members deliver the majority of new homes across all tenures, has welcomed today’s confirmation by the Chancellor and Office of Budget Responsibility that planning reform being undertaken in England would add £6.8bn to real GDP in 2029-30 and £15.1bn within ten years.

Kevin Murphy, HFS Director of Planning, said:

“It is positive to see the level of ambition set out by the UK Government in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement today, reaffirming its intent to accelerate new housing delivery in conjunction with reform of its respective planning system. In doing so, the Chancellor has accurately acknowledged the significant economic benefits that new home building can bring, not just across local communities but nationally, in addition to the wide-ranging social benefits such as improved health and education outcomes.

“At the forefront of English planning reform, sits the national objective to deliver 1.3 million new homes by the end of the current Parliament, with the re-introduction of mandatory housing targets across Local Authorities.

“HFS has consistently advocated that this level of ambition be reflected by the Scottish Government, and has called for the adoption of an all-tenure home building target of at least 25,000 homes to be delivered annually to ensure that new housing delivery is recognised throughout Scottish Government Directorates as central to achieving the First Minister’s priorities for Scotland of eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency and reforming public services.

“Issuing a clear call to deliver an all-tenure target of at least 25,000 new homes each year in Scotland would give clear strategic direction and intent between national and local policymakers to prioritise new housing delivery. Returning to pre-recession levels of home building in Scotland would generate £3.7bn in total economic output to the Scottish economy and support 87,000 high quality jobs each year.

“In the last two days, statistics have highlighted that new housing starts and completions have declined for the third consecutive year whilst planning processing times for new housing remain far above the statutory timescales in Scotland. In the context of the ongoing housing emergency, these statistics must be a clear call to action for the Scottish Government to implement similar levels of radical reform.”

19 March 2025

Homes For Scotland Announces 2025 Awards Shortlist

Sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS) has announced the shortlist for its 2025 awards programme. As well as recognising best practice and showcasing the critical contribution its varied membership makes to Scotland’s social wellbeing and economic growth, this year’s awards have extra resonance for the organisation as it also marks its 25th anniversary.

Renowned as the most credible awards in their field, the details of those companies making the judges’ first cut can be found here.

The theme for the 2025 awards programme is “Customers, Community and Commitment”, with the independent judging panel considering these elements as important as the integration of increasingly onerous policy and regulatory change.

In keeping with the rigour and robustness which distinguishes the programme from others, site visits to all those shortlisted in the Development of the Year categories alongside separate senior management interviews to determine who will take headline Home Builder of the Year awards will be undertaken. A vote by the HFS membership will determine who will be crowned the organisation’s prestigious Supporting Member of the Year.

Winners will be revealed at the Homes for Scotland Annual Lunch (sponsored by Burness Paull) at the EICC on Friday 30 May at which over 800 senior sector representatives and guests are already confirmed to attend what remains the date in the Scottish home building industry calendar.
HFS Chief Executive Jane Wood said:

“By the time the winners of this year’s awards are announced, it will have been more than 12 months since the national housing emergency was declared and it has never been harder to build the homes of all tenures required to meet the housing needs of all those living in Scotland. It is therefore more important then ever to recognise the great work that is being delivered in the face of enormous challenge, applaud the sector’s resilience in doing so and support its ambitions to ensure everyone has a safe, sustainable place to call home”

Chair of the independent judging panel Sarah Stanger, Senior Advisor at the Housing Growth Partnership and former Sales & Marketing Director at CALA Homes, said:

“With this now my fourth year of involvement in the awards, I have seen firsthand the importance and prestige which home builders attach to them so it is an honour to now be taking on the role of Chair, especially during Homes for Scotland’s 25th anniversary year.

“Members are clearly recognising this special year with a 61% increase in the number of entries. Given the high level of the submissions, this has made the job of judging even more challenging but the whole panel is relishing the process and looking forward to getting out to sites and meeting those who are so obviously dedicated to delivering high quality places right across the country.”

+++

The independent judging panel comprises:

– Sarah Stanger (Chair)
Senior Advisor, Housing Growth Partnership
Former Sales and Marketing Director, CALA

– Karen Armstrong
Former Sales and Marketing Director, Taylor Wimpey

Joanne Casey
Director of Westscot Living HA, Former Director, Mactaggart & Mickel Homes / Managing Director Mactaggart & Mickel Homes England

– John Cassie
Former Regional Chairman, Persimmon Homes

– Alan Gracie
National Housing Development Manager, Lloyds Banking Group

– Mike Guthrie
Partner, Burness Paull

– Philip Hogg
Director, Consumer Code for Home Builders
Former Sales & Marketing Director, CALA / Chief Executive, Homes for Scotland

– Diarmaid Lawlor
Associate Director – Place, Housing & Economic Investment, Scottish Futures Trust

– Paul Lawson
Chair 2025, Scottish Young Planners’ Network

– Steven Malone
Principal Architect, Architecture & Design Scotland

– Colin Rae
Senior Advisor, Housing Growth Partnership
Non-Executive Director, Springfield Properties
Former Group Executive Development Director, Places for People / Board Member, Homes for Scotland

– Stefan Szymoszwskyj
NHBC Director Scotland

18 March 2025

Final phase of Edinburgh Home Demonstrator

Modern Scottish property development of 75 affordable, ‘net-zero ready’ homes at Granton Station View, led by the City of Edinburgh Council, reaches its final phase:

Edinburgh Home Demonstrator Granton

18 March 2025

St Andrews West masterplan news