Historic buildings have huge potential to fulfil a critical role in successful placemaking. 7N’s proposal for Granton Lighthouse demonstrate how listed structures can be sensitively upgraded for ongoing use and to meet modern energy efficiency standards. The planned transformation will create a new café, a community space and a mix of creative studios to create a cultural community hub at the heart of the Granton regeneration area.

Building on recent funding announcements by Historic Environment Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council the submission of a planning application that sets out a long-term, sustainable future for this important piece of Scotland’s maritime heritage is a significant milestone in the project.

Originally constructed in the 1860s as a warehouse, buoy yard and testing facility for the Northern Lighthouse Board, and later modified to include its distinctive lantern tower, the Lighthouse remains a symbolic anchor within the wider regeneration of Granton Waterfront. The planning submission outlines an extensive refurbishment of the historic fabric alongside carefully considered contemporary interventions.

The Lighthouse has a rich and varied history of innovation, experimentation and creativity. This next phase continues that story, positioning the building as a cultural anchor and a distinctive landmark within the North Edinburgh community.