‘Intergenerational’ building added to Edinburgh scheme

Plans have been submitted for a regeneration scheme in Edinburgh, which includes an ‘intergenerational building’ which will provide benefits for both the young and old.

Collective Architecture has submitted plans for the first phase of the Powderhall development on behalf of Edinburgh City Council, which will include a new early learning and childcare centre with places for 128 children with 27 accessible council homes, designed for older persons, situated above.

This intergenerational facility will be one of the first of its kind in Scotland and will offer health and wellbeing benefits for the older residents and new learning and social opportunities for children attending the nursery.

It will also be one of the first Passivhaus-standard buildings built by the local authority, meaning that it will use little energy.

All the properties will be fully wheelchair-adapted, accessible via two lifts and will have storage for mobility scooters and bikes.

The new early learning and childcare centre, which will be managed by Broughton Primary School, will allow for the existing nursery provision to relocate to the new centre.

This will provide more childcare places for the local community and open up more space for the primary school.

It will also have a multi-purpose room, which will be available for public use via the school lets system.

‘The community have absolutely shaped the development plans for this site, so I’d like to thank everyone who gave up their time to share their thoughts with us,’ said Edinburgh’s convenor for housing, homelessness and fair work, Cllr Kate Campbell.

‘The plans are better because of their contributions and will have community facilities that work for local people.

‘These new homes will be accessible and energy efficient. They will all be fully wheelchair adapted and built to the internationally recognised Passivhaus-standard, with renewable power generation on site. So they are both contributing to our Net Zero Carbon by 2030 target and our commitment to building 20,000 affordable homes by 2027.’

Photo Credit – Tama66 (Pixabay)