Demolition underway at former Deutsche Bank House in Edinburgh

An aerial view of the former Deutsche Bank House, the site of 525 Park View development. (PHOTO: Artisan Real Estate)

Regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate, in partnership with fund manager ReInvest Asset Management, secured planning approval in March 2024 for the project.

The development, named 525 Park View, will include 256 homes, 25% of which are designated as affordable housing, alongside flexible commercial spaces for potential cafes, shops, and workspaces.

The phased demolition, led by Metropolitan Demolition Ltd, is expected to take up to six months to complete. Construction of the new development is scheduled to begin in summer 2025.

Artisan Real Estate’s Regional Director for Scotland, David Westwater, described the project as an opportunity to revitalise an underused site. “This is a hugely exciting opportunity to breathe new life into an underused site, whilst ensuring its long-term future by delivering a new sustainable community to an accessible city centre location,” he said.

Westwater added: “We have a long-standing working relationship with our specialist demolition contractor who have significant UK-wide experience of carrying out complex demolition programmes in sensitive city centre areas.

“Priority will be given to ensuring minimal disruption to both our immediate residential neighbours and the surrounding business community.”

A CGI of 525 Park View, Edinburgh. (IMAGE: Artisan Real Estate)

Artisan has outlined plans to recycle as much material as possible from the demolition to be reused in the new development.

This effort will be supported by Edinburgh-based social enterprise EALA Impacts, which will manage the salvaging and reuse of materials.

Designed by 7N Architects, the development will feature extensive green spaces, including a communal garden, green roofs, and a wetland area to support biodiversity and sustainable urban drainage.

Each home will be fitted with individual air source heat pumps, eliminating the need for fossil fuels and aiming to reduce energy costs for residents.

The Deutsche Bank House site, previously used as an office and data-processing centre, was vacated in 2018.