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Developers move closer to building flats at old brewery

Artisan Real Estate An artist impression of blocks of new builds on either side of a path. Some of the buildings are red brick and others brown brick.Artisan Real Estate
The planned housing development includes plans to repurpose the former brewery buildings

Planning officers are recommending councillors approve a proposal for 168 new homes on 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.

Artisan Real Estate announced its takeover of the 1.9-acre site in December 2023.

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 brewery is made of redy brown bricks and it has a tall chimney.
The Caledonian Brewery first opened in 1869

David Westwater, Artisan's managing director for Scotland, said: "Artisan is committed to delivering this new, sustainable residential neighbourhood in a complex and historically important city centre site, providing a healthy mix of new homes and affordable housing in line with the council's policy to help tackle the city's housing emergency.

"Building high-quality, sustainable homes in sensitive and unique urban sites such as the brewery site is a lengthy, complex and expensive process - but we are confident that our comprehensive proposals will set new standards for the homes-led regeneration for this historically important city centre 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.