Two iconic brutalist structures in a popular UK city will soon be transformed as a part of £69 million ambitious plan that has been recently approved by the officials. Cables Wynd House and Linksview House in Edinburgh will get a modern facelift as a part of the improvement process.
Built in the 1960s, the iconic brutalist structures designed by Alison & Hutchison & Partners provide 310 homes, the majority of which are owned by the council and let for social rent. The City of Edinburgh Council has received the planning permission for the retrofit of both the buildings that were designed by Alison & Hutchison & Partners.
The retrofit project will significantly improve both the physical structure and mechanical systems of the buildings, enhancing their overall performance and efficiency.
In addition to these core upgrades, the council plans to introduce broader enhancements that will align the buildings with the standards typically seen in newly constructed properties.
Lezley Marion Cameron, housing, homelessness and fair work convener at City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I am delighted that the necessary planning consent for our plans to upgrade Cables Wynd House and Linksview House to provide safe, energy efficient and high-quality homes for residents there has been granted, enabling these long-awaited works to get underway, hopefully at pace.
“I am also grateful to residents for their proactive and positive engagement with us to shape the council’s £69m commitment to improving Cables Wynd and Linksview House – from campaigning for investment in their homes to participating in the consultation process and providing invaluable insight and input into our design proposals.”
Carl Baker, from Collective Architecture, which submitted the planning application on the council’s behalf, added: “We are thrilled that our retrofit proposals for Cables Wynd House and Linksview House have been granted planning permission and listed building consent. These approvals represent a major milestone in the life of two of Edinburgh’s most iconic post-war housing developments, both Category A listed and celebrated for their bold architectural character and social significance.
“Our proposals reflect Collective Architecture’s distinctive approach to retrofit, which carefully balances ambitious improvements to energy performance with the sensitive conservation and celebration of these landmark buildings, situated at the heart of a conservation area. This success is the result of a truly collaborative effort across the project team, including the expertise of our in-house specialists at Collective Energy and Collective Conservation.
“We are excited to move into the next phase of the project and look forward to transforming these historic flats into warm, safe, and resilient places to live, fit for today’s residents and generations to come.”