Masterplanning a world-class health innovation campus
Edinburgh BioQuarter Health Innovation District
Client
Scottish Enterprise, The University of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian and the City of Edinburgh Council
Location
Edinburgh
Progress
In progress
This masterplan sees the creation of a world class health innovation district, building a distinctive and cohesive community for working and living.
The background
Edinburgh BioQuarter's vision for a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood centred around a world-leading community of healthcare innovators continues to progress through the £1bn transformation to create Edinburgh's Health Innovation District.
The joint development initiative by Scottish Enterprise, The University of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian and the City of Edinburgh Council, alongside their private sector partner, is set to create a global biomedical research district harnessing private sector biomedical research and development alongside academic research based at the existing Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the adjacent University Medical School on the southern edge of the city.
Over the next decade, BioQuarter will transition into a new mixed use urban neighbourhood centred around a world leading community of health innovators.
The design approach
The masterplan for this significant expansion will increase the designated site from forty-five to over eighty-four acres, creating a mixed-use neighbourhood of life science innovation alongside new homes, cafes, hotels, purpose built student accommodation for under and post graduates, retail and community and social space.
The mixed-use design will bring activity to the area during evening and weekends, supporting health and life sciences innovation during working hours with a strong sense of community and place outwith, creating a destination where people want to both live and work.
The impact
The impact of the project will be far reaching, with the creation of further employment (an estimated nine thousand new jobs will be realised), educational and social improvement as well as increased amenities for surrounding communities. New residential space will contribute to the City Plan aspiration to provide high density urban housing and will deliver increased housing options for those working and living within the district.
We are also appointed to deliver the new University Medical Teaching Facility within the new District, adjacent to the Royal Infirmary teaching hospital and many of the University's world leading research institutes.
BioQuarter lies within a mature landscape setting, including ancient woodland, with far reaching views to the Firth of Forth and beyond. From this, a unique neighbourhood will emerge with a distinctive character and sense of place offering exceptional future connectivity to the wider city and region.
Our aspiration is to create an exceptional, sustainable and cohesive community for working and living, for young and old, expanding upon established life science excellence and residential communities.
Andrew Wilmot
Partner & Project Lead
