Edinburgh BioQuarter Masterplan

AMA is delighted that the Supplementary Guidance (SG) for the Edinburgh BioQuarter was approved by the City of Edinburgh Council Planning Committee. 

The purpose of the Masterplan is to connect the expansion land with the existing Royal Infirmary and University of Edinburgh buildings, forming a cohesive whole and and integrating the overall site with the neighbouring communities. By focussing on the creation of a coherent layout of streets, public spaces and landscapes the Masterplan provides a flexible structure which can adapt to future requirements.

We believe that this site is one of the most important and valuable sites in the city and, if developed well, it will fulfil a unique role in the city further enhancing Edinburgh’s international reputation for life sciences into the 21st century. In a world where the concerns about ‘how’ we work together are increasingly important so too are concerns for the physical environment that we work in. It is no longer enough simply to make energy efficient buildings – we must do that – but we must also make ‘places’ and buildings that feel good, that make us happy and encourage us to enjoy life and our communities.  

A well designed masterplan for the Edinburgh Bioquarter will not only ensure that we make efficient use of the land that is available but also create the sense of place that will attract people and companies to bring much needed investment and new jobs. We believe that our task should be to inspire people by creating a memorable and unique place and a thriving community for people to work, live and enjoy life. 

Now that the SG is in place it is hoped that the Enterprise Zone status will lead to development and investment in an area which the City of Edinburgh Council has identified as one of the city's key growth areas.