Located on the site of a former garage, our Temple Park Crescent project revitalises a rare city-centre brownfield site while addressing the need for housing in central Edinburgh.

Temple Park Crescent is a residential project of 46 new homes for S1 Developments and C~urb, including both affordable and family housing. Replacing a disused canal-front garage site in Merchiston, Edinburgh, the development repairs a long-standing gap in the tenement streetscape.

The new homes are designed to support flexible family living, featuring a shared canal-front garden and grow space. The design incorporates sustainable technologies, including a rooftop air-source heat pump array and heat recovery systems, aimed at managing energy efficiency and supporting low-impact living for the residents.

Active travel has been prioritised with secure cycle storage facilities conveniently located near communal entrances. In alignment with city-centre planning policies, car parking spaces have been minimised to encourage sustainable transportation options.

Completed last summer, this project is a great example of how to our city-centre infill sites can be developed in sensitive and sustainable ways.

The building’s design carefully re-establishes the traditional tenement street edge, while offering contemporary living spaces that capitalise on open views of the Union Canal. The apartments feature open-plan layouts with large, full-height windows that maximise natural light and provide expansive views. A thoughtfully selected palette of materials and colours creates a cohesive identity, harmonising with the character of both Merchiston’s section of the Union Canal and the broader Edinburgh context.

Temple Park Crescent adheres to Edinburgh City Council’s design guidelines. Over 50% of the homes are dual-aspect, and 20% of the development is dedicated to affordable housing.

Now that residents have moved-in, it is great to see this streetscape returned to its original character and people enjoying their new homes.