Western Harbour Masterplan

The project sought to create a vision for the sustainable development of a new urban quarter in Edinburgh’s Port of Leith. The previously consented masterplan was based on outmoded models of home ownership, car use, construction methods and use of materials. The opportunity to refresh this created the opportunity to deliver a residential led, mixed use community with a new park, a proposed new primary school, local amenities, shops and a waterfront promenade. The vision is to grow the place into a vibrant waterfront community which can act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Edinburgh’s waterfront.

rankinfraser’s role was two-fold: 1. to develop the design of Western Harbour Park, the 4.7 ha park at the centre of the new masterplan and; 2. to develop the landscape and public realm proposals associated with the development of up to 2000 new homes.

rankinfraser were instrumental in creating the overall landscape and public realm vision for the masterplan and park design. We we fully responsible for leading on the park in terms of design, programming, dialogue with the client, the local authority and wider stakeholders.

The project represents a significant opportunity to deliver a substantial contribution to the Scottish Government’s committment to build 50,000 affordable homes by 2021. Western Harbour Park will be one of the largest new city parks built in Edinburgh for over a century and will make a significant contribution to the health, biodiversity and well being of both new residents and the many existing residents that have effectively lived with undeveloped brownfield land for many years.

The design team has adpoted a number of important placemenking principles to cultivate the new neighbourhood. These include:
- Celebration of site and context
- The design seeks to maximise the benefits of being on the coastal edge of Edinburgh with the creation of a car free harbourside promenade, sheltered public spaces and distinctive planting palettes.

The public realm design will deliver a clear hierarchy of public spaces from the 4.7ha Western Harbour Park, the 500m long harbourside promenade, car free public spaces and streets, pocket parks and private communal gardens. All public spaces are deliberately contained and overlooked by active frontages.

The innovative funding model for Western Harbour, considers the provision of homes and public realm as long term infrastructure rather than the short term/quick sale of the private sector. This allows for a longer term sustained investment into placemaking with the entire first phase of 938 homes, first phase of the park and the public realm all to be delivered within 2 years but owned and maintained over 25 years.

The project will be one of the first of scale to embrace City of Edinburgh’s new parking standards allowing for greater reductions in the provision of parking space to the benefits of improved public transport, foot and cycle provision. Car parking has been kept off street as far as practicable concealed below garden decks freeing the streets for people.

The masterplan represents a significant investment in the provision of well design affordable homes and public spaces in a city where housing is increasingly unaffordable for many. The design represents a well considered, humane and intergrated approach to placemaking that celebrates the specifics of the coasta/harbour location. The project was jointly led from the start by the Architects and Landscape Architects. It is a exemplary demonstration of what Landscape Architecture can add to community and environmental regeneration and the creation of places that people want to live.