Vacant waterfront unit to be transformed into community hub

Arts charity Edinburgh Palette is set to transform a vacant industrial unit in Granton Waterfront into a creative and community hub, with support from Edinburgh Council.

The Council has approved a lease of the premises on West Shore Road to the charity, which supports the arts by bringing vacant buildings back to life so they can provide affordable studio space.

The Council is supporting the project by providing a year’s free rent, which will add to the City of Edinburgh Council’s sustainable and dynamic £1.3bn vision for the Waterfront area.

The project will provide affordable shop space for local retail and hospitality businesses, alongside supporting the creative industries and the third sector by delivering studio space for freelancers and micro-businesses.

Deputy leader of City of Edinburgh Council, Cammy Day, said: ‘We announced our ambitious £1.3bn plan to sustainably regenerate this area last year and it’s fantastic to see real progress is being made on the ground. Our plan is for Granton Waterfront to provide quality new sustainable development and a place where people can work, play, learn, enjoy culture and live in high-quality homes. The site on West Shore Road will become a draw for the local community as well as visitors to the area, providing jobs and a boost to the local economy as well as supporting so many groups like social enterprises, sports clubs, health and wellbeing services and other community organisations.

‘We’ve worked with Edinburgh Palette across the city for a number of years and they’ll make a great addition to the area alongside Wasps. I look forward to supporting them in their new enterprise and seeing all their hard work come to life.’

Development manager at Edinburgh Palette, Andrew Chainey, added: ‘Edinburgh Palette is delighted and extremely grateful for the phenomenal support received from everyone at the City of Edinburgh Council. Our operational team and long-term contractors can’t wait to deliver on our new home at West Granton Shore.

‘We’ve been overwhelmed by interest in the project at 20 West Shore Road from all corners of the community including the creative and craftmaking world. The possibilities are as breathtaking as the views of the Forth from West Granton Shore.’

In related news, the National Lottery Community Fund has published a report documenting the impact of the £650m of National Lottery, government and third-party funding that has been invested in community infrastructure over the past five years.

Photo by Khara Woods