In Brief: The Social Hub has submitted a planning application for a 580-bed development in Edinburgh’s Fountainbridge area, signaling a significant addition to the city’s accommodation supply and aligning with broader urban regeneration efforts.
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Image Credit The Social Hub
The Social Hub has submitted plans for a £200 million, 580-bed development at the former Fountain Brewery site in Edinburgh’s Fountainbridge area.
The proposals cover a site vacant for around 20 years and form part of a wider masterplan for the area. The plans include student, hotel and extended-stay accommodation, along with a fixed co-working area for up to 300 people and flexible workspace for thousands more.
The development is intended to help ease pressure on Edinburgh’s housing stock from student and visitor demand. It is also intended to help unlock affordable housing being progressed by the council and a new canal-side public square.
Plans include a restaurant, café, rooftop bar, clubhouse, theatre and gym. The co-working space is intended to address a shortage of city-center offices.
Once operational, the project is expected to create up to 100 jobs, support more than 280 roles and add £15.5 million to Edinburgh’s economy. The building is expected to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.
Research from RealWorth found that the group’s facilities generate at least five times the economic and social value of standard hotels, rising to more than eight times in Rome.
The Social Hub held public consultation events in Fountainbridge last year, and local residents’ feedback informed the submitted plans. Community members were also invited to visit the group’s Glasgow location in Merchant City.
The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and CodeBase have supported the proposals.