New hospital plan for ERI medical zone

Published on Friday 24 December 2004 12:29

A PRIVATE hospital would be built just half a mile from the ERI under plans to further expand the growing medical quarter in the south of the Capital.

The 80-bed hospital has been proposed for the site of the historic Edmonstone House, off Old Dalkeith Road.

The developers behind the plans are keen to build near the ERI because the new hospital may want to make use of its specialist facilities.

The scheme, if it is approved by city planners, would also add to the growing army of medics working at Little France.

As well as the ERI, a 200 million biomedical park is being set up at Little France, where 6000 staff are eventually expected to work.

The first phase of the new plans would see 1.5m spent improving the environment of Edmonstone House. The surrounds of the old mansion house, which dates back to the 13th century, have fallen into disrepair in recent years and have been badly vandalised.

Improvements would include the restoration of the house’s West Lodge, landscaping to restore historic features in the grounds and planting new woodlands.

The development is a rival bid to another private hospital scheme planned for land just a mile away beside the Shawfair new town in Midlothian.

The developers behind the latest hospital bid lodged details of their plans with the city council once they realised they faced potential competition.

The Shawfair hospital scheme is part of a multi-million-pound business park planned for the site of the former Monktonhall Colliery site north of the Old Dalkeith Road between Danderhall and Campend.

A small private hospital arranged around three courtyards and nearly a dozen office blocks are planned for the site, expected to create 3500 jobs once completed.

A proposed park-and-ride scheme at Todhills would transport commuters to the new hospital and business park.

But the developer behind the latest bid, Boskabelle Limited, hopes it may be able to build first at the Old Dalkeith Road site.

In a letter to Edinburgh City Council chiefs, Farningham McCreadie Partnership, agents for Boskabelle, said: "My clients consider that a new healthcare facility within close proximity to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary would make good sustainable planning sense and bring a further high-quality development to the city."

The letter continues: "The proposed healthcare facility at Edmonstone presents an opportunity to create a high quality healthcare environment within a well structured landscape, consistent with the immediate needs of the former estate as well as the wider policy context.

"With respect to the Midlothian application, it is acknowledged that hospitals could be acceptable in a business park environment."

The Shawfair business park scheme is part of a massive project to create 5000 homes, two large primary schools, a town centre and a railway station on the proposed reopened Edinburgh-Borders route. Council chiefs have yet to consider either application.