Site Context

Understanding the site, its history and its surroundings.

01

Existing Site

Summerhall is in south Edinburgh, south of Hope Park Terrace, north of Summerhall Square, and is positioned to the southeast corner of the Meadows. Please refer to the adjacent location plan.

View on Google Maps
Location plan showing the Summerhall site boundary outlined in red, between Hope Park Terrace, Summerhall Square and the Meadows View full size
Location plan — site boundary outlined in red.Image: Kettle Collective

It is formed of an existing complex of buildings in a mélange of architectural styles, dating from the early twentieth century to the current day. For the purposes of this public consultation and proposals, the buildings are categorised, as follows:

Aerial view of Summerhall with each building block shaded in a different colour, Blocks A to F2 View full size

Image: Kettle Collective

Aerial view of Summerhall with Block A highlighted
Block A — Main Building, David McArthy, completed circa 1925

Image: Kettle Collective

02

Planning Designations

Conservation AreaLocated within South Side Conservation Area
Listed BuildingHistoric Environment Scotland records the Summerhall complex as being B-Listed
Town CentreBorders Nicolson Street/Clerk Street Town Centre
FloodingNo risk of coastal or river flooding and majority of the site is not a risk of surface water flooding, though there are small pockets at low – high risk throughout the site

As noted above, Historic Environment Scotland records the Summerhall complex as being B-Listed, and it includes specific descriptions of the Main Building (Block A), the Lab Tower (Block D), and the Clinic and Animal Research Lab on Summerhall Square (Block B).

The Hope Park & Buccleuch Congregational Church on Hope Park Terrace (Block E) is separately recorded as B-Listed.

AMA have instructed Turley Heritage as Heritage Consultants and alongside project architects, Kettle Collective have undertaken a robust heritage and townscape appraisal to inform initial proposals. A Heritage Impact Assessment will be prepared by Turley Heritage and submitted as a supporting technical document with the future planning application.

03

Planning History

  1. 1854

    The site which is now known as ‘Summerhall’ developed from the mid-19th century. In 1854, it is understood that a brewery was occupying part of the site, and the current northern boundary intersecting the footprint of the original Summerhall House.

  2. 1877

    By 1877, two churches were positioned at the north-west and north-east corners. Summerhall House had been demolished, and Hope Park Terrace constructed, establishing the present northern boundary. Summerhall Square to the south had also been laid out by this date.

  3. 1908–1947

    The brewery remained in 1908 but was demolished by 1932 and replaced by the Royal (Dick) Vet School, with ancillary buildings to the rear. By 1947, a block had been built behind the north-west corner church.

  4. 1967–71

    The church was demolished shortly afterwards, leaving this part of the site vacant until 1967-71, when the existing seven-storey tower was constructed. In the same period (1967-71), the existing modernist four-storey block in the south-east corner of the site was erected.

Beyond the sequence of development from the mid-19th century, the table below provides an overview of more recent planning history, with reference to the former Royal (Dick) Vet School.

ReferenceAddressDescriptionDecision
01/04085/FUL Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Erect plant room at second floor terrace / carryout exterior repairs to cladding. Granted7 March 2002
08/04209/FUL Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Masonry infill to 8 windows, with render to match existing. All within modern link building. Granted10 February 2009
10/00943/LBC Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Removal of 3 stained glass windows and 1 war memorial plaque. The above to be refurbished and relocated to the new vet school currently under construction at Easter Bush, Midlothian (as amended). Application returned
10/01598/LBC Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Removal of 3 stained glass windows and 1 war memorial plaque. The above to be refurbished and relocated to the new vet school currently under construction at Easter Bush, Midlothian (as amended). Granted12 August 2010
12/01196/LBC Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Internal alterations and external alterations to doorways. Permission not required10 April 2012
12/01234/LBC Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Demolition of redundant animal storage pens to expose historic stone wall. Harled single storey brick building demolished and plaster finish removed to expose sandstone rubble wall. Repointing with lime mortar. Permission not required5 April 2012
12/01199/FUL Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Alterations and change of use from redundant former university vet school clinical rooms and stables into microbrewery use. Granted29 May 2012
12/02305/LBC Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Alterations to improve circulation routes between main entrance hall and south courtyard. Remove existing 3no. windows and replace with 2no. glazed doors and 1no. fixed window. New wheelchair access for south wing. New terrace to rear. Granted23 August 2012
12/02596/FUL12/02597/LBC Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL External platform lift and wide ramps / new staircase. New glass doors to provide improved access to tower. Enlarge 3 windows, dropping cills. Granted14 September 2012
12/03488/LBC Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Repaint external harled surfaces of central building. Granted13 November 2012
12/03478/FUL Former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Change of use from animal pharmacy to provide bar, restaurant, toilets and hospitality rooms. Repaint the external harling surfaces. Granted30 November 2012
13/04281/FUL 1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Change of use from educational / office to industrial use. Granted13 December 2013
22/06468/S50 1 Summerhall,Edinburgh,EH9 1PL Request for a Planning Section 50 Certificate (Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005). Certificate Issued29 December 2022

Summerhall was originally a brewery, church and gardens but the early 20th century saw the establishment of the Royal Dick Veterinary College and in more recent years a variety of uses developed on site with a mixed-use / arts complex, Edinburgh Fringe Festival venue, and home to Pickering’s Distillery, the Royal Dick Pub, and Edinburgh Acting School.

The planning history gives a helpful background to established planning uses and units at the site. Although the above history is fragmented by sub-sites, there has been a history of at least 10 years of mixed uses on the site, since it was sold by Edinburgh University to the Oesselmann Summerhall consortium in 2011.

In this context, the following planning uses have become established at the site:

  • Class 1AService, Retail, etc.
  • Class 3Food/Drink
  • Class 4Business
  • Class 5General Industrial
  • Class 10Non-Residential Institutions
  • Class 11Assembly / Leisure
Have Your Say