A well-known piece of Edinburgh’s industrial heritage is set for a thoughtful transformation. The City of Edinburgh Council has unanimously approved plans to redevelop the former Caledonian Brewery site into 168 new homes, giving this iconic Victorian site a second life this time as a vibrant, low-carbon residential neighbourhood.
The proposal, led by Artisan Real Estate, blends history with forward-thinking design. The brewery, first established in 1869, has evolved over 150 years with buildings added in different eras, making it a uniquely layered and complex site. According to Artisan’s Managing Director for Scotland, David Westwater, that complexity has opened the door to a one-of-a-kind opportunity: to bring high-quality housing to the city centre while honouring the character of the past.
A central focus of the design is heritage. The original brewhouse and maltings — designed by notable Edinburgh architect Robert Hamilton Paterson — will be carefully retained and reimagined. In fact, around 20% of the new homes will be created within the historic listed buildings. Where new structures are introduced, they’ll echo the original brewery layout, even restoring the skyline of the maltings lost to fire in 1994. There’s also a plan to creatively reuse some of the site’s old brewing equipment, like the traditional copper vessels, as part of the final design a subtle tribute to its industrial roots.
While the project has received strong support overall, some local residents raised questions during consultation about parking availability and how affordability would be addressed in the final housing mix.
Artisan Real Estate purchased the site from Heineken in late 2023 and now looks ahead to delivering a new kind of neighbourhood — one that connects Edinburgh’s architectural past with its future housing needs.
New-build developments are on the rise across the UK, and with demand for housing continuing to grow, now is a better time than ever to start planning your own project. Whether you’re thinking of a small self-build or something on a larger scale, our team at Homz is here to help you navigate every step from initial ideas to full approvals. Get in touch with us today.
References:
1.) https://www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/05/29/permission-given-168-homes-historic-edinburgh-site
