Edinburgh Council has approved new homes to be created inside a historic old mansion on the grounds of a 13th century castle.
The council gave permission for six new apartments inside the old B-listed mansion, located behind Craiglockhart Drive South, on the banks of the Water of Leith, and a further two new build homes will also be erected at the site.
The new occupants might not realise they are living in one of the city’s forgotten historic locations.
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The 13th century Redhall Castle was attacked by Oliver Cromwell’s forces in 1650 after Scotland declared Charles II to be their king.
Initially in the summer of 1650, Cromwell’s invading army hadn’t fared well but they won a decisive victory in East Lothian at the Battle of Dunbar and soon took Edinburgh, and the rest of Scotland.
The castle had been owned by wealthy nobleman since it was built and by the time of the attack it had passed to the Hamilton family.
Sir James Hamilton of Redhall held off the English army for two days but the resistance ended when they ran out of ammunition and this allowed Cromwell’s troops to move in from their position on the Water of Leith and blow the castle up.
It was soon sold off and eventually in 1758 the new Redhall House was created, with panels and sandstones from the castle.
Since then the home was used for residential purposes initially before it was used as a care facility for children, and finally owned by Edinburgh Council and used to train staff before it fell into disrepair.
The building was categorised as at risk in 2011 and had won attention from a local preservation group.
The developer Dildar Gold bought the premises in 2008 for £1.7 million and Redhall House was soon earmarked as a potential residential site.
Previous planning bids were shelved but the accepted application was first lodged to Edinburgh Council in 2018 and has taken almost four years to be passed.
On March 10 the council granted the alteration and conversion of existing building to form six duplex apartments; the erection of a detached garage block accommodating six garages; and the erection of two detached dwelling houses with all associated site development works and landscaping.
A report of handling prepared by Edinburgh planning officers before the planning application was granted on March 10 says the development would not detract from the sensitive setting.
It stated: “The principle of development, change of use and loss of open space is considered acceptable. The proposal represents an appropriate form of development in this sensitive location which will not detract from the setting of the listed building and maintains and improves the landscape setting of the site.
"There will be no adverse impact on the amenity of existing neighbours and a satisfactory level of amenity will be provided for the future occupiers.”
