HISTORY OF THE SITE

1890s 1930s 1950s 1980s

1817-1822

Between 1817 and 1822, the Union Canal was built to link the centre of Edinburgh with the Forth and Clyde canal at Falkirk. It mainly to carry coal from Central Scotland to Edinburgh. Later, it brought stone, chemicals and market produce into Edinburgh.

1930s

The canal basins and corridor had been derelict since trade along the canal stopped in the 1930s.

1965s

Closure of the Union Canal Industry： The Union Canal, as well as providing transport, was an important source of water for the brewery, North British Rubber Works and Cox's Glue Works in Edinburgh.

Closure：However, the canal was closed to through navigation in 1965, and sections of it were removed, particularly through Wester Hailes in the western suburbs of Edinburgh.It seemed unlikely then that the canal would ever re-open.

1960s

2000

Millennium Project

A scheme was approved to reopen the entire length of the canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow was approved at a cost of £78m, as one of Scotland's Millennium Projects in 2000. The canal has now re-opened. Sections that were lost have been re-built.

2002

In July 2002, the Edinburgh Evening News announced proposals to redevelop the area around Lochrin Basin at Fountainbridge, close to the view in the engraving below. The development is a joint venture between Miller Developments and British Waterways. It is to be known as Edinburgh Quay.

2003

Reopen

This was once an industrial area with a brewery and the North British Rubber Company Works It is proposed to create a mixed development with 30,000 sq ft for restaurants and bars, 80,ooo sq ft for offices and 62 apartments

Construction is due to commence in summer 2002, with the first phase being completed in autumn 2003

Physical Model Of The Exist Building Ground Floor

Physical Model Of The Exist Building First Floor