EXTERNAL funding of almost £3 million has been made available to protect the built heritage of Granton Waterfront in north Edinburgh.
The investment aims to help bring the area’s historic buildings and structures back to life through restoring, upgrading, and connecting the facilities with the wider community.
The funding is from the heritage and place programme (H&PP) with £1,346,389 from Historic Environment Scotland and £1,248,868 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The money will also be used to support new opportunities for the community to explore and celebrate Granton’s heritage.
Each building and structure awarded funding has its own story to tell about the history of Granton Waterfront, stretching from the early modern period to the late Victorian era.
At Granton Lighthouse, a full refurbishment of the 19th century C-listed building – including major fabric repairs and accessibility enhancements – will create a new flexible, creative, learning, enterprise and community development space, to be operated by Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust.
Madelvic House, which is B-listed and from the 1890s, will also benefit. Once the HQ for the UK’s first car factory, it will undergo roof and window restoration, interior upgrades, and accessibility improvements so it can be used by local arts and heritage organisations.
The City of Edinburgh Council is working with the Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden to carry out structural restoration to the boundary walls and doocot of Granton Castle’s walled garden. This will build on initial works the council has already carried out, helping to ensure its continued use as a community garden and food education hub.
A dedicated community heritage officer will be appointed to lead a programme of heritage activities, including open days, exhibitions, walking tours, and volunteering opportunities.
Council leader Jane Meagher said, “I’m very pleased that this project has been awarded funding to carefully restore the historic buildings of Granton Waterfront as part of the wider £1.3bn regeneration of the area. A key aim of the project is to involve the local community in our plans for these listed buildings and structures as we bring them back to life for people to use and enjoy for generations to come.
“Historic buildings play an important role in the identity and character of a place, and they are a fundamental part of our collective history and that is why it is so important to make sure that the people of Granton have a role to play in creating and enhancing that identity. This will ensure that a formerly neglected part of the city becomes a desirable place to live with a thriving community at its heart.
“As part of the restoration work we will deliver traditional skills training in partnership with Edinburgh College and local contractors will focus on construction and conservation skills that support career development and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the area’s heritage.”
