http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "Decision on future on landmark moves a step closer" (Granton gas holder) en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:35:16 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710&page=2#post-378053 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:26:48 +0000 chdot 378053@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>The Granton Gas Holder, now named ‘Gas Holder 1,’ opened to the public at the weekend on Saturday, December 21 and now features a range of new facilities including a multi-sensory play zones and a dedicated area for permanent and temporary art.</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburghs-granton-gas-holder-transforms-into-community-park-as-part-of-ps13-billion-regeneration-project-4921341" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburghs-granton-gas-holder-transforms-into-community-park-as-part-of-ps13-billion-regeneration-project-4921341</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710&page=2#post-369591 Sat, 05 Aug 2023 09:46:04 +0000 chdot 369591@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/13788/historic-moment-to-transform-granton-gasholder" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/13788/historic-moment-to-transform-granton-gasholder</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710&page=2#post-365943 Fri, 20 Jan 2023 22:19:27 +0000 chdot 365943@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Turns out that the money for the gas holder isn’t new money </p> <p>“</p> <p>In the first round of awards from the Levelling Up Fund in October 2021, Edinburgh received £16.5m for restoration of the Granton gasholder as part of the area’s waterfront regeneration project. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/edinburgh-misses-out-on-levelling-up-cash-snp-says-fund-is-reverse-robin-hood-adventure-3995724" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/edinburgh-misses-out-on-levelling-up-cash-snp-says-fund-is-reverse-robin-hood-adventure-3995724</a></p> <p><em>I was just fooled by the UKGov’s website (my bold) -<br /> </em><br /> “</p> <p>The restoration of the gasholder celebrates the area’s industrial past. It also helps build its future. </p> <p>Find out more about levelling up. </p> <p><strong>Published 17 January 2023 </strong></p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/over-16-million-to-kickstart-transformation-of-grantons-waterfront" rel="nofollow">https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/over-16-million-to-kickstart-transformation-of-grantons-waterfront</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710&page=2#post-365895 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 12:29:40 +0000 acsimpson 365895@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Given the lack of current residents it's unclear exactly who is being levelled up. Likely a lot of the people who afford the new homes will also be those with strong and stable incomes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710&page=2#post-365894 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 11:20:39 +0000 Morningsider 365894@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>So, in the middle of a cost of living crisis the UK Government awards £16m to gussie up an old gas holder in one of the richest parts of the UK - the main beneficiaries being the developers who will build new homes in its immediate surrounds.</p> <p>Mental. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710&page=2#post-365893 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 11:04:32 +0000 chdot 365893@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Granton Gas Holder</p> <p>£16,482,845 </p> <p>Over £16 million from the Levelling Up Fund will help kickstart regeneration of the The Granton Waterfront area in Edinburgh. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/over-16-million-to-kickstart-transformation-of-grantons-waterfront" rel="nofollow">https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/over-16-million-to-kickstart-transformation-of-grantons-waterfront</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710&page=2#post-364646 Tue, 08 Nov 2022 17:11:29 +0000 chdot 364646@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/edinburgh-gasholder-park-work-set-to-start-on-new-waterfront-attraction-and-events-arena-in-granton-3909272" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/edinburgh-gasholder-park-work-set-to-start-on-new-waterfront-attraction-and-events-arena-in-granton-3909272</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-359098 Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:13:30 +0000 chdot 359098@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/historic-edinburgh-gasholder-to-be-turned-into-tree-lined-waterfront-amphitheatre-3623467" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/historic-edinburgh-gasholder-to-be-turned-into-tree-lined-waterfront-amphitheatre-3623467</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-358877 Thu, 10 Mar 2022 14:55:13 +0000 chdot 358877@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/gasholder-glows-yellow-and-blue-in-solidarity-with-ukraine-3605262" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/gasholder-glows-yellow-and-blue-in-solidarity-with-ukraine-3605262</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-358541 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 14:53:39 +0000 chdot 358541@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I see this thread is 10 years old…</p> <p>(This IS Edinburgh)</p> <p>“</p> <p>Views are being sought on how best to utilise the huge space that the structure occupies after securing funding from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund to restore the B-listed frame as the centrepiece of a coastal park. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/abandoned-edinburgh-granton-gasholder-could-23100166" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/abandoned-edinburgh-granton-gasholder-could-23100166</a></p> <p>I’m quite happy something seems to be ‘getting done’. </p> <p>If only there was more progress on routes/paths in the general area. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-321620 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 23:22:28 +0000 Rosie 321620@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"What would the world be, once bereft<br /> Of wet and of wildness? Let them be left,<br /> O let them be left, wildness and wet;<br /> Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet."</p> <p>I agree that farmland is often a monocultural desert, though not so bad as a golf course, and that regenerating waste land is one of the gladder sights in urban life. </p> <p>The fashion for wildflower gardening and plantings on roundabouts should mean that something of Nature fighting back is left when developing a site. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-321605 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 15:01:40 +0000 chdot 321605@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“Is it preferable to develop 40 acres of brownfield site rather than yet more of the rapidly diminishing green belt?”</p> <p>A few years ago that would have been a non-question. </p> <p>Now it’s wholly appropriate that questions are asked about each bit of (potential) development land. </p> <p>There are plenty of places that <em>were</em> brownfield and have since been recolonised by ‘nature’. </p> <p>Think of the former sidings at Fiveways that have been ‘rewilded’ by birch trees (and more) and now the habitat for birds and children (etc). </p> <p>Too much ‘farm land’ is a far less diverse habitat. </p> <p>It’s not binary. </p> <p>One point of green belt was to be just that - a band around a major urban area. </p> <p>The proximity of Midlothian and the different aspirations (and needs) of the two councils (and the fairly arbitrary boundary between them) has not helped to create a coherent and practical landuse policy - especially one that can resist the deliberately piecemeal developers’ actions. </p> <p>Of course there is little rationality of the planning process when it comes the the value of landscape or wildlife or current human use that may well promote‘wellbeing’ etc. </p> <p>Anyone wanting to secure - or encourage ‘balanced use’ - for areas like (for instance) that around the gasometer, needs to make some noises <em>before</em> it gets to the stage of a planning application. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-321603 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 14:35:46 +0000 ejstubbs 321603@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is it preferable to develop 40 acres of brownfield site rather than yet more of the rapidly diminishing green belt? (Says he, feeling somewhat disillusioned at the loss of urban boundary green space having passed the Gilmerton Station Road/Lasswade Road/Lang Loan development sites yesterday, and those on each side of Burdiehouse Road.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-321595 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 11:36:13 +0000 Rosie 321595@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The 40 acre site around it is a nice bit of re-wilding with plenty of birdlife. I know it's too much to expect that bit of real estate to be left to the birch and birds, but I will be sorry when it's gone. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-321588 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 09:44:17 +0000 chdot 321588@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/historic-edinburgh-gas-tower-set-be-turned-one-scotlands-biggest-works-art-1377328" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/historic-edinburgh-gas-tower-set-be-turned-one-scotlands-biggest-works-art-1377328</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-226208 Wed, 03 Aug 2016 10:37:32 +0000 chdot 226208@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>A NEW bid to finally find a buyer for Granton’s historic gasholder has been launched – by offering it along with room for 1000 new homes. The landmark structure, which was originally put on the market two years ago, is now being offered to developers with an additional 40-acre site which could become a thriving residential area.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/new-bid-to-find-buyer-for-40-acre-granton-landmark-1-4192750" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/new-bid-to-find-buyer-for-40-acre-granton-landmark-1-4192750</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-95953 Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:49:12 +0000 chdot 95953@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> Cockburn Association (@thecockburn)<br /> 07/01/2013 17:37<br /> National Grid are trying to demolish the Granton gas holder again. They could spend 1% of their £1.1billion pre-tax profit on restoration...</p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-57456 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:25:35 +0000 SRD 57456@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"That was when riding ten miles was an expedition" "Still is (can be)."</p> <p>Opened link on computer last night. K. saw the picture "Ooh, oooh, WE were THERE"! </p> <p>a good expedition! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-57452 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:16:17 +0000 kaputnik 57452@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I would assume most of the pollution on this site is from the gasworks themselves rather than the holder, which is (was) effectively an enormous water tank on which the gas reservoir floated. As gas pressure inside increases, the reservoir rises. As gas was tapped off, the reservoir sinks. </p> <p>Therefore you can also assume they would have to do the same clean-up operation across the site, regardless of whether they wanted to demolish the holder and cover it in rows of tiny houses or leave it standing.</p> <p>My take on this is it's all about NG trying to scrape as much profit from this site as possible. The land is always going to be relatively cheap, so the more of it they can develop the more money they can get out of it and the less maintenance / restoration costs for the gas holder they will have to foot. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-57395 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:09:05 +0000 Claggy Cog 57395@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The largest problem with "brown" sites is that the soil is so heavily polluted that it is actually unsuitable for development. These old gasometers were used to store coal gas before North Sea (natural) gas and the ground is heavily contaminated with sulphur, methane, coal tar, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and ammonia. The only way to get rid of all the pollutants/contaminants is to dig very deeply and remove all soil, which will probably just end up on a city dump(s) and cause problems there too.</p> <p>@Arellcat - there are many instances of where a listed building has been left to rot to such a degree that it becomes unsafe and has to be demolished ala half of Barnton, like the Barnton Hotel, Cammo House Farm....in fact many properties left/bequeathed to EDC and the burgers of Edinburgh which no longer exist for that very reason. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-57394 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:03:25 +0000 chdot 57394@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"That was when riding ten miles was an expedition"</p> <p>Still is (can be). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-57392 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:48:06 +0000 Arellcat 57392@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Being "old" doesn't automatically make it worth keeping.</em></p> <p>Being listed doesn't automatically prevent a structure being left to become damaged and derelict, even when it's the Council or a major public body who owns it.</p> <p>I wish film for cameras hadn't been quite so expensive when I was young, or I might have had more than just vague memories of exploring Granton Gasworks on bikes with my Dad. That was when riding ten miles was an <em>expedition</em>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-57390 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:27:34 +0000 chdot 57390@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"National Grid in bid to force sale of listed gas tank to city council"</p> <p><a href="http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/national_grid_in_bid_to_force_sale_of_listed_gas_tank_to_city_council_1_2125798" rel="nofollow">http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/national_grid_in_bid_to_force_sale_of_listed_gas_tank_to_city_council_1_2125798</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-54512 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:03:10 +0000 kaputnik 54512@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Druidh, true, but that's not the reason that it has been "saved" by the Reporter - it's a fine and notable (and listed!) piece of Victorian engineering. The later 2 additions to the gasworks weren't deemed worthy of keeping as in heritage / architecture / engineering terms they were not of note and so were demolished.</p> <p>The gasworks itself was a <a href="http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_buildings_g/0_buildings_-_granton_gas_works_opening_low_buildings.htm">rather grandiose structure</a>, more akin to a country house than an industrial complex. The <a href="http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_buildings_g/0_buildings_-_granton_gas_works_1908_2_1024.htm#picture">Railway Station</a> is a listed structure and has thankfully been thoughtfully restored. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-54508 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:56:40 +0000 druidh 54508@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Being "old" doesn't automatically make it worth keeping. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-54429 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:54:31 +0000 chdot 54429@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Previously posted</p> <p>"<br /> "A NEW bid has been launched to demolish one of the most striking industrial landmarks on Edinburgh's skyline."</p> <p><a href="http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/National-Grid-bids-to-revamp.6788674.jp" rel="nofollow">http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/National-Grid-bids-to-revamp.6788674.jp</a></p> <p>Local councillor seems to sit on fence -</p> <p>"<br /> Forth councillor <a href="http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/councillors/16/cammy_day">Cammy Day</a> said: "There are people that do not care what happens to it and see it as a blight.<br /> "</p> <p>I wonder how many of the people enjoying the new park agree and would rather see just another modern development. </p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/5793572198/in/photostream"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/5793572198_44e6c26ddb.jpg"><br /> </a></p> <p>"<br /> <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1675#post-33960" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1675#post-33960</a></p> <p>I think it looks fine the way it is! </p> <p>Some people have no sense of history, landscape, 'place' etc.</p> <p>But as has been said above - could be turned into something striking (iconic even!) that might actually make people want to develop the area and attract people to visit/live. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-54426 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:24:51 +0000 chdot 54426@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Cockburn Association @thecockburn</p> <p>@IainMcGill @brianjaffa of concert venues, radio stations, residential amongst others<br /> In reply to Iain McGill</p> <p>Cockburn Association @thecockburn </p> <p>@IainMcGill @brianjaffa examples of reuse in Athens, Oberhausen, Stockholm, Dublin &amp; Kings Cross.<br /> In reply to Iain McGill</p> <p>Cockburn Association @thecockburn </p> <p>@IainMcGill @brianjaffa as the Scot Report suggests it require 'wit &amp; imagination'. Is that in short supply?<br /> In reply to Iain McGill</p> <p>Cockburn Association @thecockburn</p> <p>@IainMcGill @brianjaffa rather than let it rot they could invest less than 1% of that profit in restoration.<br /> In reply to Iain McGill</p> <p>Cockburn Association @thecockburn </p> <p>@IainMcGill @brianjaffa and we surely dont have to point out that National Grid's profits were £1751 million in 2010/11</p> <p>Cockburn Association @thecockburn</p> <p>@IainMcGill @brianjaffa National Grid proposed nothing useful. Have you visited Granton recently? Vacant land isn't exactly scarce.<br /> In reply to Iain McGill</p> <p>Cockburn Association @thecockburn </p> <p>Granton gas holder has a stay of execution. fb.me/1DwkllORy</p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-54415 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:35:50 +0000 LivM 54415@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oo I like the Dublin one. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-54394 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:45:50 +0000 Morningsider 54394@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>£200,000 a year to paint. How about painting it with the stuff they used for the Forth Bridge - good for 25 years apparently.</p> <p>Also, kudos to the Inquiry Reporter for making the right decision. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2710#post-54392 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:22:45 +0000 PS 54392@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hear hear! (to K and Anth, rather than Frances Durie...)</p> <p>You'd have a thought a centre-piece like a converted gas holder would help positively distinguish the development from all the other standard-issue buildings that were proposed down the Waterfront. </p>