Caledonian Brewery Edinburgh homes for Artisan Real Estate, Shandon housing, Scottish capital property development

Caledonian Brewery Edinburgh Homes Development

post updated 9 May 2024

Major Planning Application Submitted for Homes-Led Transformation of Edinburgh’s Caledonian Brewery

Development proposals set to “respect, preserve and tell the story” of the capital’s last major city brewery.

Caledonian Brewery Edinburgh Planning Application

The homes-led transformation of the former Caledonian Brewery in Shandon, Edinburgh, is now a step closer to reality with the submission of a major planning application to the City of Edinburgh Council. Following a comprehensive three-month consultation programme, regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate has unveiled ambitious proposals to develop the historic brewery site into a sustainable, low-carbon residential development delivering 168 new homes.

Sitting at the western edge of Edinburgh’s city centre, the Caledonian Brewery was the capital’s last major operational brewery before Heineken UK ceased production and put the site on the market in 2022. The brewery was founded in 1869 by George Lorimer and Robert Clark and its distinctive range of B-listed Victorian buildings provide an important reminder of the city’s once extensive brewing heritage. Artisan announced plans to purchase the 1.9-acre former brewery site in December last year.

Welcoming the submission of the planning application, Artisan’s Managing Director for Scotland, David Westwater said: “Artisan’s development proposals intend to respect, preserve and tell the story of the Caledonian Brewery. The feedback from our consultation events was overwhelmingly supportive and positive. There was a significant and long-established affinity, amongst local residents especially, for the historic brewery buildings which will be preserved to form the heart of our new development – including the spectacular 130-ft red brick chimney which towers over the local community. 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.

“There was also significant support for our plans create a much needed sustainable, low carbon residential community on the site, with 168 homes providing a healthy mix of different types of accommodation. This will include a mix of one, two and three-bed family apartments through to duplex units and mews houses, together with affordable housing in line with the City of Edinburgh Council policy.”

Mr Westwater added: “Artisan’s proposals for the Caledonian Brewery have also secured widespread support from the local business community with 75 per-cent of some 30 neighbouring businesses welcoming plans to bring new investment, interest and people into the area, with the brewery site having remained dormant and unused for the past 18 months.”

Artisan Real Estate has a strong track record in delivering award-winning sensitive urban regeneration projects. This includes the New Waverley mixed-use development in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town and part of the World Heritage Site, as well as recently completing the transformation of Glasgow’s historic A-Listed Custom House into a thriving hotel quarter. The Caledonian Brewery’s unique heritage and character will govern Artisan’s development approach. Around one fifth of the homes will be housed in the existing listed buildings which will be preserved and repurposed. Additional development proposals will respect and reflect the original footprint of the brewery – including recreating the skyline of the maltings buildings which was demolished following a fire almost 30 years ago.

Most of the listed buildings on the site date from the late 19th to early 20th century and were constructed using distinctive red brick with white brick dressings. The existing brewhouse and maltings were built in 1892 following designs by renowned Edinburgh architect Robert Hamilton Paterson, who also designed the Royal Scots War Memorial in the city’s St Giles Cathedral. The brewery currently houses a vast amount of brewing equipment – including what was the last remaining direct fired ‘coppers’ to be used in the UK, which have been attracting the interest of independent breweries across the world. As part of the redevelopment plans, Artisan intends to ‘upcycle’ as much of the internal equipment as possible, allowing the Caledonian Brewery’s significant technical legacy to continue to play a part in today’s global brewing industry.

For more information on Artisan Real Estate’s proposed redevelopment of the Caledonian Brewery, visit: https://streets-uk.com/slateford/

22 December 2023

Location: 40 Slateford Road, Shandon – North Merchiston, three miles west of the centre of Edinburgh

Artisan Real Estate Purchases Edinburgh’s Caledonian Brewery

Consultation to Begin for Sustainable 170-home Community at Historic City Centre Site

Caledonian Brewery Edinburgh Development

Regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate has agreed terms with Heineken UK to purchase the 1.9-acre Caledonian Brewery in Shandon, Edinburgh. Artisan has submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to develop the historic site into a sustainable, low-carbon residential development, with plans to deliver around 170 new homes. A major public consultation programme seeking feedback on the proposals for the site will start in February 2024.

Sitting at the western edge of Edinburgh’s city centre, the Caledonian Brewery was the capital’s last major city brewery prior to its closure in 2022. Founded in 1869 by George Lorimer and Robert Clark, the brewery site and its range of distinctive B-listed Victorian buildings provide a significant reminder of the city’s once extensive brewing heritage. Known locally as ‘The Calley’ the brewery was famed for using traditional brewing methods and equipment – such as open square fermenters and original direct fired copper kettles.

Having passed through a range of ownerships during the past two centuries, the brewery was operated by Heineken from 2008 following the company’s acquisition of the UK assets of then owner Scottish and Newcastle. In May 2022, Heineken announced the closure of the Caledonian Brewery and subsequently put the site on the market.

Artisan Real Estate has a strong track record in delivering award-winning sensitive urban regeneration projects. This includes the New Waverley mixed-use development in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, as well as recently completing the transformation of Glasgow’s historic Custom House into a thriving hotel quarter. Welcoming the purchase of the site, Artisan’s Scottish Regional Director David Westwater said: “The Caledonian Brewery was an important part of Edinburgh’s past – and now it has the potential to become an important part of the city’s future.

“We plan to create a much needed sustainable, low carbon residential community with around 170 homes providing a healthy mix of accommodation. This will include a mix of one, two and three-bed apartments through to duplex units and mews houses, of which 35% will be affordable housing in line with the City of Edinburgh Council policy.”

He added: “From the start, the brewery’s unique heritage and character will govern our development approach. Around one fifth of the homes will be housed in the existing listed buildings, which we will preserve and restore to their former glory. We will also, wherever possible, respect and reflect the original footprint of the brewery – including recreating the top-floor skyline of the maltings buildings which was demolished following a fire almost 30 years ago.”

Most of the listed buildings on the site date from the late 19^th to early 20^th century and were constructed using distinctive red brick with white brick dressings. The existing brewhouse and maltings were built in 1892 following designs by renowned Edinburgh architect Robert Hamilton Paterson, who also designed the Royal Scots War Memorial in the city’s St Giles Cathedral. The maltings houses what was the last remaining direct fired ‘coppers’ to be used in the UK. Also listed is the 130-ft red brick chimney which towers spectacularly over the neighbouring community.

The Caledonian Brewery site was placed on the market by agents JLL in November 2022 after owners Heineken had reviewed options to sell the site as a going concern. At the time, the global brewer said the Victorian infrastructure at the plant meant it was no longer economically viable amid falling production in the last decade.

A spokesperson from Heineken UK said: “This is a hugely significant site which has played a key role in the development of brewing in Edinburgh for more than 150 years.

“It was a very difficult decision to close the site last year, but we are pleased that a developer of Artisan’s pedigree and experience will now take the site forward and preserve many of the brewery’s unique features whilst meeting the varied demands of modern and sustainable city centre living.”

For more information on Artisan Real Estate’s upcoming Caledonian Brewery public consultation, visit: https://streets-uk.com/slateford/

Caledonian Brewery – Development Timeline

1865	18-year-old London tea merchant George Lorimer returns to his family home in Edinburgh following the tragic death of his father at Edinburgh’s Theatre Royale. Whilst golfing at the Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society he meets Robert Clark, then Head Brewer at the Alexander Melvin Brewery in Edinburgh. After a few drinks, they agree to use George’s future inheritance to launch a brewery in the city.
1868	George finally inherits his father’s estate and purchases the then 2.3-acre site alongside Slateford Road from the Earl of Sheldon.
1869	With George providing the money and Robert providing the brewing expertise, the pair complete the brewery and name it the Lorimer & Clark Caledonian Brewery after the Caledonian Railway Line which still forms the northern boundary to the site. The first of the brewery’s impressive direct-fired coppers were installed in the same year.
1892	Several buildings on the site were reconstructed following designs by Edinburgh architect Robert Hamilton Paterson – including the new brewery and maltings buildings. Although the brewery sold its beers and stouts all over Scotland, its most popular beer was Lorimer’s Best Scotch which was sold predominantly in the north-east of England.
1919	The popularity of Lorimer’s Best Scotch in northern England leads to the brewery being sold to Sunderland-based Vaux Breweries following the retirement and death of George Lorimer (Clark having died in 1874.)
1986	Vaux cease brewing in Edinburgh and transfers its operations to its base in Sunderland, placing the Caledonian Brewery under threat of closure.
1987	The brewery is saved by a management buy-out led by Head Brewer Russell Sharp and the Caledonian Brewing Company is formed.
1994 & 1998	The brewery’s maltings buildings is destroyed by fire in 1994 whilst another fire in October 1998 destroys one of the three original coppers. A local company comes to the rescue and hand-builds an exact replacement to the original plans. As part of the repairs, a new yeast room, cask-racking system and new settling tanks for keg beers are added, together with a kegging plant.
1999	When Vaux ceases brewing operations altogether, Caledonian buys back the rights to the Lorimer & Clark name.
2004	The brewery site and production facilities are bought by Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) following their closure of the McEwan’s Brewery in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh. Production of McEwan’s ales is subsequently transferred to the Caledonian Brewery. A new Caledonian Brewing Company (CBC) is formed by several former shareholders and directors of the pre-2004 business. CBC owns the Caledonian brands and operates the brewery site on behalf of the owners. Whilst S&N takes a 30% share in this business, CBC operates on an independent basis.
2008	S&N buys the remaining shares in CBC to take full control of the company. Heineken then acquires the UK assets of Scottish and Newcastle which includes the Caledonian Brewery.
2022	In May, Heineken announces the proposed closure of the Caledonian Brewery with an agreement in principle for Belhaven Brewery to brew its Scottish brands. In October, the site is placed on the market.
2023	In December, Artisan Real Estate announces that it has purchased the site from Heineken with a consultation set to start in February 2024 for a sustainable community of 170 new homes to be developed on the site.