THE Social Hub has submitted plans to reimagine a long‑derelict site in Edinburgh as a £200 million hospitality and community ‘powerhouse’.
The B Corp-certified group, founded by Edinburgh-born Charlie MacGregor, has submitted proposals for the former Fountain Brewery site in Fountainbridge, which has stood vacant for around 20 years. The scheme forms part of the wider masterplan to regenerate the area and is designed to help unlock affordable housing, now being progressed by the council, alongside a new canal-side public square.
The proposals centre on a 580-bed facility spanning student, hotel, and extended-stay accommodation. The development will also deliver a fixed co-working area for up to 300 people, and flexible space for thousands more, alongside a line-up of social spaces including a restaurant, café, rooftop bar, clubhouse, theatre, and gym.
Once operational, The Social Hub is expected to create up to 100 jobs, support more than 280 roles, and boost Edinburgh’s economy by £15.5 million. Research from RealWorth has shown the group’s facilities generate ‘at least five times’ the economic and social value of standard hotels by supercharging local connections, enhancing community wellbeing, and fuelling learning and entrepreneurship. The building is also expected to achieve BREEAM Excellent.
Last year The Social Hub held a series of public consultation events in Fountainbridge, with feedback from local residents informing the submitted plans. Community members were also invited to visit the group’s Glasgow hub to see how its model has helped energise and rejuvenate Merchant City and the wider city centre.
The proposals have already secured support from organisations such as the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, and CodeBase.
Charlie MacGregor, founder and CEO of The Social Hub, said, “Submitting these plans is a landmark moment – not just for The Social Hub, but for me personally. Edinburgh is my home city, and bringing our model here is something I’ve dreamed of for years. We’ve listened closely to the Fountainbridge community, understood what the area needs, and shaped a scheme designed to make a lasting, positive impact.
“Glasgow has shown the power of our model to bring students, neighbours, entrepreneurs, and visitors together. Now we want to spark that same energy in Edinburgh – a place woven into the life of the city, where connection and creativity don’t just happen, they thrive, and where social impact becomes part of everyday life.”
