Communal lounge at The McEwan
A former brewery site in Edinburgh is turning into a thriving neighbourhood for modern rental living, says JULENA DRUMI
Once one of Edinburgh’s busiest industrial areas, Fountainbridge thronged to the sounds and smells of brewing and the manufacture of rubber boots. The McEwans brewery and the North British Rubber Company that supplied the British Army from 1914 are long gone, and the area is being transformed into a new community of fashionable homes for rent.
Moda and Apache Capital’s appropriately-named The McEwan is a build-to-rent neighbourhood recently completed by Robertson Construction. The final phase of 139 homes makes up to a total of 476 apartments.
The McEwan features a number communal amenities that have taken renting to a new level. They include a resident gym, private dining rooms, lounges, private roof terraces, cinema room, a library, co-working, and studio spaces.
Delivery of the neighbourhood’s second phase generated £32.8m of social, local and economic value, with almost £17m spent with SMEs and £18m with a local supply chain.
It was the first development in Scotland to be brought forward by Moda and Apache Capital with its investors Harrison Street and NFU Mutual.
Communal film room at Moda
All Moda residents benefit from access to the MyModa app from day one, allowing them to connect with neighbours, message the concierge, and book exclusive events and services from a tap on their phone.
The development was the first building in Europe to achieve the highest, three-star Fitwel rating, demonstrating Moda’s commitment to maximising the health and wellbeing of its residents and the wider Edinburgh community.
Tony Brooks, executive chairman at Moda Living said: “Reaching practical completion at Moda, The McEwan is a landmark moment, and we’re grateful to Robertson, Apache Capital and its investment partners and other stakeholders for helping to deliver the second phase of this fantastic neighbourhood.
“We’re proud to be playing a role in the regeneration of Fountainbridge and to be welcoming residents into this already dynamic community, designed with health, wellbeing and community in mind, that makes it more than an apartment but a home.”
Jamie Snary, executive director asset management and operations at Apache Capital said The McEwan is another BTR asset forming part of its prime regional portfolio. It bringis a further 136 homes into operation adding to the 6,000 units which are either operational or in the development pipeline.
Alongside welcoming the first residents the first commercial occupiers including a convenience-led retailer have been secured.
Elliot Robertson, chief executive at Robertson Group, said the development had breathed new life into a once underused part of the city to create a thriving neighbourhood.
“A real focus of our approach was to ensure that we provided long-lasting benefits for the local economy and community throughout construction,” he said.
“It’s fantastic that we achieved this by supporting local suppliers, creating jobs, and offering apprenticeships that will help build skills for the future.”
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