Plans to transform and demolish a creepy abandoned Edinburgh call centre and turn it into apartments and office space are finally set to be given the green light.
An application to develop the historic 1960s Finance House, Orchard Brae, was granted in June lat year subject to a contribution being made by the developer towards education, infrastructure and agreeing to deliver affordable housing units at the site.
Now, with an agreement being settled, councillors will once again cast vote during Wednesday's Development Management Sub-Committee meeting, with planning officers recommending another approval.
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The office block has appeared online and on social media in recent years after urban explorers discovered it was frozen in time, with equipment, furniture and paperwork all being left behind as if staff vanished off the face of the earth.
The eight-storey office block constructed in the 1960s was extended ten years later with a large five storey extension to the rear. There are just shy of 170 parking space at the lowest level of the building accessed from Learmonth Gardens.
The development would see the five-storey extension demolished to form mixed use residential apartments comprising of flats and duplexes with main door access.
The main development would be formed by 151 flats with associated landscaping and private amenity space. The refurbished structure will provide space for 86 flats and nearly 300 square metres of Class 4 office/co-working space.
A new build residential building will replace the demolished 1970s extension. The new build 'L' shaped residential structure will range in height from three to five storeys and will provide 65 residential units.
Thirty-eight units are proposed as affordable units and a range of private and communal green space is proposed.
The construction of a new road has been mentioned during planning stages, continuing Learmonth Crescent to the south and connecting it with the west side of Learmonth Gardens.
Landscaping plans also include the introduction of public benches and informal timber play elements. The provision of a new path through the site, the demolition of the existing rear of the building and the formation of a new build structure will result in the loss of 34 trees. 37 new trees are proposed.
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