Haymarket mixed-use development by Reiach and Hall is given planning permission second time round

Designs for a major new office and shopping development in the heart of historic Edinburgh have been given the go-ahead by the local council.

The first phase of the Haymarket has been designed by Edinburgh-based architect Reiach and Hall, and will feature 32.487 sq m of offices, shops, leisure facilities and licensed premises.

At its core is a five-storey public arcade, which will provide a new route through Edinburgh’s financial district. The arcade will be lined with shops on two levels.

The scheme was altered after the council had originally refused planning permission. The site, which has remained derelict for almost 40 years, is situated between two conservation areas and the city centre, which is a World Heritage Site.

The Haymarket is being developed by the EDI Group, a private company 100% owned by City of Edinburgh Council. There will be two further phases designed by Page and Park and Alan Murray Architects.

EDI chief executive Ian Wall said: “This important site, one of the last gap sites in the city centre, demands a development of character, scale and ambition to mark the western edge of Edinburgh’s city centre. We believe that our Haymarket proposal meets this challenge.”