Specialist Edinburgh developer/investor, Whiteburn, have secured detailed planning consent for their proposed re-development of the East Tun building and adjacent site on Holyrood Road.

Warmly supported by the Royal Fine Arts Commission for Scotland and praised by Historic Scotland for its bold design, Allan Murray Architect's ambitious proposals received the unanimous approval of the Planning Committee at their hearing on 3rd February. Guided by Masterplanner John C Hope's overall vision for the 5 acre former brewery site, the 89m long building combines the comprehensive re-construction of the former brewery building, behind a retained façade, with the addition of a seven storey copper, glass and zinc clad structure supported by exposed V-shaped concrete frames, fronting Holyrood Road.

Forming the commercial hub of this exciting Old Town regeneration area, The Tun will provide a much needed mix of high quality contemporary office space, retail units, a public house and a rood top restaurant (offering stunning southerly views to Salisbury Crags) to compliment the new housing, hotels, Scotsman Headquarters and Dynamic Earth Centre already under construction and of course the new Scottish Parliament.

With Scottish & Newcastle already on board, working up their proposals for a flagship pub/restaurant aimed to appeal to a unique mix of business, tourist and parliamentary clientele, sole agent John A S McGregor now has a major part of the office space reserved to blue chip tenants and is reporting keen interest in all the retail units. The roof top restaurant is likely to go to a well known local operator, whose high quality cuisine has gained a huge following already with the business community in Edinburgh. With its own dedicated high-speed scenic lift, accessed from the main office entrance on Jackson's Entry, diners will enjoy the excitement of arriving in style!

Allan Murray has also designed a unique office/gallery suite at third and fourth floors, with connecting spiral stairs and enclosed by a 1.7m high x 60m long strip of "planar" type glazing on each side, capping the existing brick walls of the East Tun and emphasising the modernity of Murray's approach. John McGregor believes this suite in particular will appeal to the more design or media based occupiers and Whiteburn are planning to create a business centre on the second floor to respond to the demand for short term, flexible space generated by the nearby parliamentary activity; providing a common reception area, meeting rooms and conference facilities.