January 28 2025

A flood-hit late Victorian Edinburgh pub, closed since 2020, has been sold to deliver a 21 apartments.

The Longstone Inn has been closed since part of its structure fell into the Water of Leith, prompting the present plans by Fouin & Bell and QB Wood. This would see the current site cleared and flood walls repaired with new sheet piling, raising the site level above the present flood line.

In a statement, the applicant wrote: "The existing site is an eyesore and at risk of further damage from future flooding events and cannot be left in its current state.

"The new proposal would upgrade the river walls of both the Murrauburn and Water of Leith in accordance with 1 in 200-year flood risk and the council's Water of Leith flood prevention scheme."

Defending the increased massing of their proposals the applicant added: "In our opinion the street can comfortably accept a tall building at this important 'pivot' point on Longstone Road.

"We would also note that a taller building helps screen HMP Edinburgh from passersby on Longstone Road."

The new structure will be built on a concrete podium deck to first floor level. 

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Philip on 28 Jan 2025 at 14:37 PM

A truly magnificent effort by Fouin and Bell.

#2 Posted by flip on 29 Jan 2025 at 09:27 AM

who said modern architecture can't be beautiful

#3 Posted by Juli on 29 Jan 2025 at 09:37 AM

One for the ages - surely this must be the magnum opus of Fouin & Bell, the pinnacle of their architectural career

#4 Posted by Everyone's a critic on 29 Jan 2025 at 10:54 AM

FYI Fouin & Bell were liquidated in 2023.
I don't think UR does some developments any favours when it takes what are clearly low res SketchUp massing model images and blows them up. Some pretty renders and the usual UR keyboard warriers would likely STFU

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