Seven in fight for Fountainbridge

Construction firm Miller Group and shopping centre operator Land Securities are believed to have teamed up to mount a bid for the site, which was scheduled to become the global head office for HBOS before the bank’s collapse and takeover by Lloyds TSB.

Other bidders for the brewery – which closed down in 2005 – are understood to include Macdonald Estates and Muse Developments, part of construction group Morgan Sindall.

Another potential purchaser is Grosvenor, the property development firm owned by the Duke of Westminster, which was controversially “gazumped” by HBOS in 2008 after it had teamed up with Royal Bank of Scotland and housebuilder AMA to develop the site.

Grosvenor already owns the Fountainbridge North site on the opposite side of the road from the former brewery. That part of the complex is being developed for housing under the “Springside” brand.

Edinburgh City Council also has its eye on the site, which it wants to develop as the home of Boroughmuir High School.

Brewing giant Scottish & Newcastle sold the Fountainbridge site to HBOS for a reported £100 million. Planning permission has been granted for more than 750 homes and a 250-bed hotel.

William McEwan launched his Fountain Brewery in 1856, which became one of 30 in the Scottish capital.