Linking the City to the Shore
The best things in life are worth waiting for, and Edinburgh celebrated the arrival of its first new public park for over a hundred years with the official opening of The Forthquarter Park on Granton’s waterfront today (28April). Created on a former brown field site that was previously out of bounds to the public, The Forthquarter Park gives Edinburgh’s citizens a new opportunity to enjoy beautiful open space, woodland, wild life and stunning views out over the Firth of Forth.
The £2 million, 20 acre park is situated on a section of the old Granton Gasworks site, and local community representatives, outdoor activity groups and children from Waterfront Nurseries and Forthview Primary School were among guests to attend the official opening and enjoy the new public space. The children were entertained by Edinburgh-based performing arts charity tePOOKA, who organised an exploration of the park and a nature-themed treasure hunt. Prizes and gifts for the children were kindly provided by Morrisons store at Granton and National Grid.
National Grid’s £50 million investment has seen the formerly derelict area transformed as part of the wider regeneration of North Edinburgh’s waterfront area. The Forthquarter Park contains 200 existing trees, more than 800 semi-mature birch trees, 15,000 shrubs and 43,000 square metres of new grassland – the equivalent of ten football pitches. The new park also boasts water features, boardwalks, and a sustainable urban drainage system, known as a SUDS scheme. Since its development The Forthquarter Park has also become a haven for wildlife, and the park is watched over by CCTV and regularly patrolled by security guards to ensure that the park remains a safe and pleasant environment for all to enjoy.
Opening the park Colin Shoesmith, Managing Director of National Grid Property, said: “Granton was once Scotland’s biggest town gas manufacturing plant - the power house of Edinburgh and beyond, the focus of attention for homes and businesses across the capital. It was also the focus of attention for the whole community as it provided the labour that produced the gas that fuelled and lit the city. It gave almost every family a reason to be connected to Granton and the waterfront”.
He continued: “Of course times change, and in the 1960s and 70s gas manufacturing slowly gave way to natural gas, which meant a gradual reduction in the processes at Granton. As the production processes and the workforce grew smaller, fewer families had a connection to this great site. However much has come full circle – following a tremendous remediation and regeneration task, an investment in excess of £50 million, this 20 acre park 110 acres of post-industrial land is Nation Grid’s contribution to Edinburgh’s wider waterfront regeneration.”
“The Forthquarter Park’s water features – one of which started life as a water supply for firefighters in case of an emergency at the gas works – act as a reminder of this area’s heritage, while reflecting the more tranquil yet thriving activities that are rejuvenating this area. The Forthquarter is fast becoming a vibrant and animated destination, with a college, call centre and supermarket offering employment, training and learning opportunites, a range of desirable and affordable new homes offering attractive living space, and now this wonderful park offering space for relaxation, sport and leisure activities. Once again families have a reason to come to Granton and once again National Grid’s endeavour is connecting the community with the city and the waterfront. This benchmark development demonstrates what can be achieved when the will to make good and regenerate former industrial land is harnessed with a willing community and the vision, energy and enthusiasm necessary to see through a project of this immense scale”
Councillor Steve Cardownie, deputy leader of City of Edinburgh Council, also warmly welcomed the new addition to the city’s green spaces. He said: “I’m here to ensure that the City of Edinburgh Council is officially associated with this project - we want to thank National Grid for having the foresight and loyalty to this area to proceed with the development we see today.
“As a young boy born and bred in Leith I used to come all the way along the waterfront many an evening and weekend. This was a very industrial area then and over the years developed a reputation we locals knew it never deserved. The transformation has been a long time coming – this area has been undeveloped for far too long and it’s a resource that other cities and other countries would have tapped into a long time ago – but it’s better late than never and I’m delighted to see this wonderful new development.”
He went on: “One of my council roles is to look after festivals and events and it’s always been a concern that too many events take place in either the Old or New Towns. We are looking at ways of trying to spread the attractions out across the city other than concentrating everything in the city centre. The opening of fantastic new areas like this will allow us to do that, and it gives visitors the opportunity to go further afield and see parts of Edinburgh that they may otherwise miss out on. It’s great to hear that The Forthquarter park has already been used for local events and it’s fantastic that the local community now has a great facility like this to enjoy.”
Dave Anderson, Director of City Development at the city council, added: “With the opening of this fantastic new park National Grid has definitely ‘left a trail path for others to follow’. The development of green space across this waterfront encapsulates Edinburgh’s DNA as a city with a fantastic quality of life, with high amenity green space that’s fundamental to making this place a sustainable community in economic, social and environmental terms. National Grid is to be commended for their fantastic contribution to the regeneration of this part of Edinburgh”.
The Forthquarter Park was first scheduled to open over two years ago, but faced delays when a pre-event inspection revealed problems with the quality of the water in Granton burn. That problem has now been fully resolved, and while the park was only officially opened today local residents have been enjoying the facilities for some time. Two successful community galas have been held in the park, with over 1000 people attending the most recent event in September last year.
Forth Neighbourhood Partnership convener Councillor Cammy Day helped to organise the galas in his role as youth participation worker with North Edinburgh Trust. He said: “I’m delighted to be here to celebrate the opening of Edinburgh’s newest - and one of the best - parks and green spaces. The park has been well used by local people over the last two years and it’s a real asset to both the new waterfront development and the existing North Edinburgh community. I’d also like to commend National Grid for the positive impact their continued investment has had on the Forth ward. Thanks to the support of major organisations like National Grid we are continuing to see the community develop, and we now need to encourage more community groups and organisations to make use of this wonderful resource”.
National Grid is encouraging even more people to use and enjoy the wonderful new open space on the waterfront, which directly connects the city’s cycle network and footpaths to the waterfront at Gypsy Brae esplanade. A spokesperson for National Grid said:
“While residents at The Forthquarter and adjacent community already enjoy the benefits of having this stunning natural open space on their doorsteps we don’t want the park to be a secret! We’d love to see more city residents and visitors exploring the park whether en route to the waterfront, for family playtime, to stage events or simply to enjoy the peace and tranquillity”.
The £2 million, 20 acre park is situated on a section of the old Granton Gasworks site, and local community representatives, outdoor activity groups and children from Waterfront Nurseries and Forthview Primary School were among guests to attend the official opening and enjoy the new public space. The children were entertained by Edinburgh-based performing arts charity tePOOKA, who organised an exploration of the park and a nature-themed treasure hunt. Prizes and gifts for the children were kindly provided by Morrisons store at Granton and National Grid.
National Grid’s £50 million investment has seen the formerly derelict area transformed as part of the wider regeneration of North Edinburgh’s waterfront area. The Forthquarter Park contains 200 existing trees, more than 800 semi-mature birch trees, 15,000 shrubs and 43,000 square metres of new grassland – the equivalent of ten football pitches. The new park also boasts water features, boardwalks, and a sustainable urban drainage system, known as a SUDS scheme. Since its development The Forthquarter Park has also become a haven for wildlife, and the park is watched over by CCTV and regularly patrolled by security guards to ensure that the park remains a safe and pleasant environment for all to enjoy.
Opening the park Colin Shoesmith, Managing Director of National Grid Property, said: “Granton was once Scotland’s biggest town gas manufacturing plant - the power house of Edinburgh and beyond, the focus of attention for homes and businesses across the capital. It was also the focus of attention for the whole community as it provided the labour that produced the gas that fuelled and lit the city. It gave almost every family a reason to be connected to Granton and the waterfront”.
He continued: “Of course times change, and in the 1960s and 70s gas manufacturing slowly gave way to natural gas, which meant a gradual reduction in the processes at Granton. As the production processes and the workforce grew smaller, fewer families had a connection to this great site. However much has come full circle – following a tremendous remediation and regeneration task, an investment in excess of £50 million, this 20 acre park 110 acres of post-industrial land is Nation Grid’s contribution to Edinburgh’s wider waterfront regeneration.”
“The Forthquarter Park’s water features – one of which started life as a water supply for firefighters in case of an emergency at the gas works – act as a reminder of this area’s heritage, while reflecting the more tranquil yet thriving activities that are rejuvenating this area. The Forthquarter is fast becoming a vibrant and animated destination, with a college, call centre and supermarket offering employment, training and learning opportunites, a range of desirable and affordable new homes offering attractive living space, and now this wonderful park offering space for relaxation, sport and leisure activities. Once again families have a reason to come to Granton and once again National Grid’s endeavour is connecting the community with the city and the waterfront. This benchmark development demonstrates what can be achieved when the will to make good and regenerate former industrial land is harnessed with a willing community and the vision, energy and enthusiasm necessary to see through a project of this immense scale”
Councillor Steve Cardownie, deputy leader of City of Edinburgh Council, also warmly welcomed the new addition to the city’s green spaces. He said: “I’m here to ensure that the City of Edinburgh Council is officially associated with this project - we want to thank National Grid for having the foresight and loyalty to this area to proceed with the development we see today.
“As a young boy born and bred in Leith I used to come all the way along the waterfront many an evening and weekend. This was a very industrial area then and over the years developed a reputation we locals knew it never deserved. The transformation has been a long time coming – this area has been undeveloped for far too long and it’s a resource that other cities and other countries would have tapped into a long time ago – but it’s better late than never and I’m delighted to see this wonderful new development.”
He went on: “One of my council roles is to look after festivals and events and it’s always been a concern that too many events take place in either the Old or New Towns. We are looking at ways of trying to spread the attractions out across the city other than concentrating everything in the city centre. The opening of fantastic new areas like this will allow us to do that, and it gives visitors the opportunity to go further afield and see parts of Edinburgh that they may otherwise miss out on. It’s great to hear that The Forthquarter park has already been used for local events and it’s fantastic that the local community now has a great facility like this to enjoy.”
Dave Anderson, Director of City Development at the city council, added: “With the opening of this fantastic new park National Grid has definitely ‘left a trail path for others to follow’. The development of green space across this waterfront encapsulates Edinburgh’s DNA as a city with a fantastic quality of life, with high amenity green space that’s fundamental to making this place a sustainable community in economic, social and environmental terms. National Grid is to be commended for their fantastic contribution to the regeneration of this part of Edinburgh”.
The Forthquarter Park was first scheduled to open over two years ago, but faced delays when a pre-event inspection revealed problems with the quality of the water in Granton burn. That problem has now been fully resolved, and while the park was only officially opened today local residents have been enjoying the facilities for some time. Two successful community galas have been held in the park, with over 1000 people attending the most recent event in September last year.
Forth Neighbourhood Partnership convener Councillor Cammy Day helped to organise the galas in his role as youth participation worker with North Edinburgh Trust. He said: “I’m delighted to be here to celebrate the opening of Edinburgh’s newest - and one of the best - parks and green spaces. The park has been well used by local people over the last two years and it’s a real asset to both the new waterfront development and the existing North Edinburgh community. I’d also like to commend National Grid for the positive impact their continued investment has had on the Forth ward. Thanks to the support of major organisations like National Grid we are continuing to see the community develop, and we now need to encourage more community groups and organisations to make use of this wonderful resource”.
National Grid is encouraging even more people to use and enjoy the wonderful new open space on the waterfront, which directly connects the city’s cycle network and footpaths to the waterfront at Gypsy Brae esplanade. A spokesperson for National Grid said:
“While residents at The Forthquarter and adjacent community already enjoy the benefits of having this stunning natural open space on their doorsteps we don’t want the park to be a secret! We’d love to see more city residents and visitors exploring the park whether en route to the waterfront, for family playtime, to stage events or simply to enjoy the peace and tranquillity”.