The Seafield area of Edinburgh is a business zone with numerous bulky goods retailers, car showrooms and other business uses, characterised by a low quality environment, unsightly buildings and poor pedestrian accessibility. The area occupies a prime stretch of Edinburgh’s much neglected waterfront.

Working with a private client and GVA Grimley, Urban Animation prepared a Development Vision, setting out the potential for radical redevelopment of approximately 25 hectares of land.

This speculative project proposed a new housing development fronting a linear waterfront park connecting Leith to Portobello, featuring open space, community and commercial leisure uses, water based sports and activities and new pier structures. Business and employment uses would be moved to the less prominent part of the site, with retail outlets and car showrooms relocated to established locations elsewhere.

The project faced numerous practical issues. Although it has not been implemented, the opportunity highlighted in the Development Vision has since been recognised by Edinburgh Council.