Houses planned for former Caledonian Brewery site

The proposed housing development includes plans to repurpose the former brewery buildings

Plans for 168 new homes have been submitted for the site of the historic Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh.

The brewery closed in 2022 after 153 years, with the loss of 30 jobs. It was the last major brewery in the city.

At the time its owner Heineken blamed the Victorian infrastructure at the plant, which they said meant it was no longer economically viable as production fell over the last decade.

Artisan Real Estate announced its takeover of the 1.9-acre site in December.

Its development proposal includes plans to repurpose the old brewery buildings and roll-out a mix of sustainable flats and houses across the site.

Its development proposal includes plans to repurpose the old brewery buildings and roll out a mix of sustainable flats and houses across the site.

The Caledonian was founded in 1869 by George Lorimer and Robert Clark. Most of the listed buildings on the site date from the late 19th to early 20th century.

The existing brewhouse and maltings were built in 1892 following designs by Edinburgh architect Robert Hamilton Paterson, who also designed the Royal Scots War Memorial in the city’s St Giles Cathedral.

Heineken took over the operation of the brewery in 2008 after acquiring Scottish & Newcastle.

But the company later said modernising the site was not financially viable.

After the closure in 2022, the drinks giant struck a deal to continue making the Caledonian Brewery's main brands - Deuchars, Coast to Coast and Maltsmiths - at the Belhaven brewery in Dunbar.

The site went on the market last October.

Artisan’s managing director for Scotland, David Westwater, said the proposed new homes would be a mix of one, two or three-bedroom flats and houses.

The Caledonian Brewery first opened in 1869

Around one fifth of the new homes will be within the existing listed buildings

About one fifth of the homes will be built in the existing listed buildings, which will be preserved and repurposed.

Mr Westwater said they recognised the affinity locals felt for the brewery buildings.

"We intend to maintain and celebrate as much of the brewery’s unique heritage as possible, and this includes marking the site of the two original springs on site which originally provided fresh water for the brewery process," he said.

Additional development proposals will "respect and reflect the original footprint of the brewery" – including plans to recreate the skyline of the maltings building, which was demolished following a fire almost 30 years ago.

The brewery still houses a large amount of brewing equipment, including what were the last remaining direct-fired copper brewing tanks to be used in the UK.

There will be "upcycled" and given to independent breweries.