Through an 'holistic' approach to the overall site the Plum Development Team is committed to the delivery of a 'symbiotic' relationship to promote economic vitality and diversity, expand the employment base and enhance the distinctive character and functions of Edinburgh's Old Town.



Our approach and commitment to the redevelopment of the C.E.C. site will be 'holistic' irrespective of any phasing or zoning within the overall site boundaries. It is recognised that in order to fulfil a commitment of total regeneration the central core of the site containing the new external spaces and closes is key and fundamental to the revitalisation of the area. It may well be appropriate to zone the site into 3 distinct areas for the process of regeneration to take a logical and phased progression.

- The Central Zone

- Market Street and Cockburn Street

- St. Giles Street & High Street

The Plum Development and Buccleuch Property Team are excited about the prospect of taking on the responsibility of developing this renowned World Heritage Site located in the heart of Edinburgh's Historic Old Town.



Collectively the team share the belief that the restoration of this site requires an holistic approach. To that end we have designed an innovative masterplan to create a sympathetic renovation of this area. Our aim is to provide a vibrant mix of uses, within the development as a whole and within individual buildings, which benefits occupiers and visitors alike.

This approach will promote the improvement of the City's Streets and public spaces and encourage pedestrian use. We will 'showcase' individual buildings within renewed surroundings, enhancing the past in order to embrace the future.

The team has vast experience of both working within Edinburgh's World Heritage Site and the Old Town Conservation Area.

Crucially, we have available the ample funding required to deliver this vision, to enhance this area and create Similarly the proposed mixed use segmentation of the masterplan responds positively to the individual user requirements for commercial, residential, retail, leisure and hotel/hostel. The user requirements, in terms of location within the site, enhanced pedestrian footfall, size of existing buildings, visibility and primary street frontage, are all pre-requisites of a successful masterplan.



The development and design team believe that the challenge of this exciting and significant opportunity is to successfully master plan, design and deliver a proposal that meets with the following strategic criteria.

- introduce a development framework and design masterplan for the commercial success of a key city centre site with World Heritage status.

- the provision of a diverse and commercially dynamic mix of new uses within the fabric of all of the designated existing historic buildings.

- create new environmental vitality with new pedestrian linkages between Waverley and the Royal Mile.

- create similar pedestrian comfort both during the day and at night through appropriate design of external spaces and the utilisation of modern lighting technology.

- populate the regeneration proposals with new appropriately scaled closes affording further opportunities for street vitality.

- create a framework and hierarchy of uses due to increased permeability.

- overcome the financial burden of the excess capital requirement and construction challenges within the heart of the site, in order to create a sympathetic regeneration of the whole area.

- Design and deliver a "gateway to Edinburgh" historic Old Town. This development will prove appealing to a multitude of users such as residents, live/ workers, employees, tourists, performers and the general public at large.