Plans to transform a historic Edinburgh factory into 28 townhouses are set to be approved by Edinburgh councillors.<\/p>\n
The production block on the Madelvic House estate in Granton has stood for almost 130 years, and is believed to be the first purpose-built automobile factory in the UK.<\/p>\n
Now, a social housing trust is looking to convert it into two banks of 14 townhouses, divided by a courtyard that was part of the factory.<\/p>\n
Lar Housing Trust announced plans in 2024 to launch the conversion, which they say will aim to \u201cminimise any alteration to the original form and fabric of the building\u201d.<\/p>\n
One of the townhouses will be a two-bed unit, while the remaining units will have three beds each.<\/p>\n
According to a design statement published by Lar, the redevelopment will see a \u2018compromise\u2019 of the original building to accommodate a planned flat block adjacent to it.<\/p>\n
Two stairwells will be built into the factory, which will serve the new flat block when it is built.<\/p>\n
Each of the townhomes will run over two stories, with the developers saying that the majority of the units would be able to be adapted for wheelchair use if needed.<\/p>\n
Details of the development were provisionally approved by councillors in May of this year, pending agreement by the firm on how much it would contribute to local infrastructure.<\/p>\n
However, the application is now returning to councillors, as it emerged that an error in the trust\u2019s planning application would have seen it overcharged for these contributions.<\/p>\n
In May, councillors signed off on a contribution of \u00a31,716.50 per townhouse towards bike lanes and similar infrastructure, and \u00a3192.50 per unit towards a \u2018mobility hub\u2019.<\/p>\n
But now councillors are being asked to approve \u00a31,524 per unit for bike lanes and similar infrastructure, and \u00a3192.50 per unit for a mobility hub.<\/p>\n
This would be a total contribution per unit of \u00a31,716.50 per townhouse on the development site.<\/p>\n
Officers have recommended that councillors approve the planning application with the revised contribution totals at a meeting next Wednesday.<\/p>\n
On the Madelvic site, the developers say they want to retain the \u201cunique building with its own specific heritage\u201d for future generations.<\/p>\n
And they say that the structure is appreciated in the neighbourhood, as well as the heritage that comes with it.<\/p>\n
The factory began construction in 1898 as a purpose-built automobile factory, intended for the production of electric cars.<\/p>\n
At the site, \u2018electric powered horseless carriages\u2019 and two-seater electric buggies were built \u2013 but the Madelvic Carriage Company folded in 1900.<\/p>\n
However, a series of companies continued automobile manufacturing on the site until 1911, after which it went dormant.<\/p>\n
During the First World War, the site was used for torpedo storage \u2013 however it fell out of use again after hostilities ceased.<\/p>\n
But from 1925 until 2001, it played host to the United Wire Works, becoming its Granton Factory, being used to produce wire cloth.<\/p>\n
The company still runs a factory on the former Madelvic estate, however it is located elsewhere on the property, and runs at a smaller scale.<\/p>\n
It won class B listing in 1998, with the office and the power generating station also built as part of the factory site also being listed at the same time.<\/p>\n
The site is located off Waterfront Avenue in Granton, nearby West Granton Avenue, with nine bus routes stopping near the proposed development.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the site sits next to a safeguarded tram route along Waterfront Avenue, which could be constructed as part of the next stage of Edinburgh\u2019s tram system.<\/p>\n
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter<\/p>\n