From industrial port to cultural gem - Leith's bold new vision unveiled

The Dry Dock at Harbour 31 development is part of the wider Harbour 31 regeneration plan, a site currently used for industrial port activities. The land to the south east of Edinburgh Dock.

Forth Ports has now lodged Detailed Planning Consent and Listed Building Consent with Edinburgh Council.

Pamela Smyth, chief legal and property officer of landowners Forth Ports Limited, said: “Our application for The Dry Dock at Harbour 31 aims to deliver a vibrant, creative and commercial hub that integrates this historical site with its surroundings and will introduce new public spaces and open up previously inaccessible areas of the port to the community.

“Through significant investment, the Port of Leith is transitioning into a leading offshore renewables hub and coupled with this proposed development, this adds to the current regeneration of Leith and the waterfront.”

It is hoped the proposals will open up previously inaccessible areas of the port to the community. Shipping containers, fully repurposed, will offer flexible workspaces in keeping with the site’s heritage.

Last year, Forth Ports secured planning permission in principle for 337 new homes and 244sqm of commercial space on the site, with gfivethree architects involved in the design process.

Historical structures on the land, such as the former dry dock pump house, sheds and rail tracks, have been incorporated into the regeneration design.

In December, Forth Ports announced it was making a fresh £50 million investment in Leith after securing a “game-changing” offshore wind contract.

The UK’s third-largest port operator said the bumper private investment in infrastructure would support the delivery of the 1.1-gigawatt (GW) Inch Cape wind farm, which once completed in 2027 is expected to generate enough energy to power half of Scotland’s homes.

Forth Ports Limited owns and operates eight commercial ports in the UK – Tilbury on the Thames, Dundee on the Firth of Tay and six on the Firth of Forth – Leith, Grangemouth, Rosyth, Methil, Burntisland and Kirkcaldy.