New homes to rise from ashes of fire-hit school site

AN arson-hit former Victorian primary school is set to be transformed into new homes as part of a multi-million pound redevelopment of the area.

The disused Niddrie Mill Primary, on Niddrie Mains Road, will be turned into 12 flats, with a further 43 homes to the side and back of the building.

It forms part of the 15-year masterplan to transform the area with new housing, schools and public spaces.

The school, which closed in 2008 to make way for a 16 million joint-campus school with St Francis Primary, has been attacked by vandals while standing empty.

In March last year, a huge blaze started by arsonists destroyed two 1970s buildings to the rear.

Portobello and Craigmillar councillor Mike Bridgman welcomed progress on the development. He said: "The building is of significant importance to the community and we should do whatever we can to retain it.

"It's been lying empty for too long and we really need to do something with it.

"I believe it's the last building in the area built with Niddrie brick from the brick works."

The homes within the school building will be a mix of one, two and three bedroom flats.

A shared garden will be created to the east of the building, with the landscaped area at the front, which contains the Wauchope Memorial Cross, kept.

The 43 new homes within the grounds will be a mix of two to four storey buildings made up of flats and houses.

Craigmillar Community Council has objected to the four-storey blocks on the grounds they will be higher than nearby properties.

The school plans are the latest phase of the 200 million, 15-year plan to regenerate Craigmillar, which will eventually see more than 3,000 homes built.

A spokesman for developers PARC said: "The Niddrie Mill Primary School site lies at the heart of the Craigmillar regeneration area and has great potential for future development.

"The application for 55 new homes continues the successful home-building momentum that PARC is driving forward.

"We are producing high quality affordable homes less than two miles from the city centre, in an environment which is changing for the better.

"It's a formula which is proving very successful."

Members of the council's planning committee are being asked to approve the new homes at a meeting on Wednesday.

John Bury, head of planning, said: "The development complies with the development plan. The council has an interest in the application but there is no significant body of objection that would require it to be referred to Scottish ministers."