Oldest car factory in Britain on the road to demolition

The grade B-listed Madelvic car factory in Granton Park Avenue will be knocked down after developer Buredi asked for permission to clear the site.

The move was opposed by Historic Scotland and the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland.

But councillors have now agreed with Buredi – a joint venture between The Burrell Company and council-owned arms-length company EDI group – that the building was unattractive to buyers and was blocking the development of the area.

Chairman of the development management subcommittee, Councillor Jim Lowrie, said: "I think we've looked at this over the last three years and I think they've tried everything (to market the building]. The condition is that they can't actually demolish it until we see what's replacing it."

The building was built in 1899 and is thought to be one of the oldest car factories in the world.