Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, For Clovenstone Park and Drive Neighbourhood Council/City of Edinburgh District Council

ARCADE were invited to develop proposals for Clovenstone in Wester Hailes, as part of the Neighbourhood Strategy established by the Wester Hailes Representative Council. The area covered 270 existing houses arranged primarily in the form of four and five storey walk-up blocks around a large open space.

Working closely with the local community in the shape of the Neighbourhood Council, ARCADE identified five key issues which had to be addressed in order to create a sustainable neighbourhood: security, privacy, amenity, appearance and tenure.

ARCADE went on to make proposals which included selective demolition, strategic infill and new building (both for residential and community facilities), modifying lower floors to form family houses, demarcating public and private territory more clearly, providing play areas for children and landscaping. The strategic intention was to reinforce the idea of facing the street, paying particular attention to the concept of threshold.

The proposals were then developed in more detail, in close collaboration with the Neighbourhood Council, in relation to a phased programme of works.

‘Clovenstone Park and Drive East: A Picture for the Future’ was presented as a report to the Neighbourhood Council, the District Council and Scottish Homes.