Press release issued 10 November 1998

Scottish & Newcastle take space at The Tun, Holyrood

One of Scotland's largest and best known companies has become the first tenant to sign up at Whiteburn Project's showpiece development, The Tun in Holyrood Road, Edinburgh.

Scottish & Newcastle plc have taken a pre-let of some 5,500 ft² on ground, basement and mezzanine level. The space will trade as a public house/café bar. S&N aim to open for business in Autumn 2000, when the building will be fully completed.

A planning application for the entire scheme, including the space pre-let to S&N, has recently been lodged with Edinburgh City Planning Department - where a model of the development is now on view.

The Tun, set to become of Edinburgh's most spectacular office developments, will be adjacent to the new Parliament building. The highly specified building will comprise some 2,700m² (29,000ft²) of first class office accommodation, 650m² (7,000ft²) of retail space and 800m² (8,600ft²) of leisure facilities.

Commenting on the letting John McGregor of sole agents John A S McGregor said, "We are pleased that with this pre let, Scottish & Newcastle has endorsed the undoubted attractions of The Tun. With such a strategically placed building, we can report exceptional interest in the space we are letting - already we are in discussions with some high profile organisations seeking representation close to the new Scottish Parliament".

Designed by the award-winning architectural practice, Allan Murray Architects Ltd, The Tun, with its subtly skewed and canted frontage onto Holyrood Road, combines a variety of cladding elements - patinated copper, zinc, planar glazing - to contras with the original red and buff brick retained on the existing East Tun brewery building. The tension created between old and new will produce a stunning result, especially when viewed from Salisbury Crags.

"The final scheme is a very elegant solution for this large dominant site. The best features of the original competition winning submission have all been retained … it will be a great success and an asset for the City" commented John C. Hope, Masterplanner for the Holyrood North Site.

The site forms part of the "Holyrood Project" redevelopment being carried out on behalf of Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust by Development Services Partnership Ltd (DSP).

Whiteburn are also behind The Leith Loft Company, whose successful Leith Lofts warehouse conversion in Maritime Street is nearing completion, with 22 out of 28 lofts pre-sold.