Former Scottish Widows HQ on the market

The former HQ of Scottish Widows in Edinburgh is being marketed for redevelopment by JLL.

The property at 15 Dalkeith Road has a distinctive design with 199,460 sq ft of space. Planning permission has been obtained for the construction of 174 residential units, with selective demolition, extension and upgrading of the existing building to provide around 130,00 sq ft of sustainable, Grade A offices.

JLL says that the consented scheme involves demolishing five of the twelve office modules with the remaining office structure being upgraded and extended. Five residential apartment blocks are proposed in the north-east portion of the site, containing 174 units.

There is also an opportunity to amend existing planning consent to explore alternative uses for the building and space, including Residential, PBSA, Hotel, Education and Leisure.

The Twentieth Century Society notes that the HQ was built in 1972–76 by the practice of Sir Basil Spence, Glover and Ferguson. The building deceived the RIBA Award for Scotland in 1977 and was Category A listed by Historic Environment Scotland in 2006 as a 'a major achievement of international status for Spence and his partners'.

The Society is currently campaigning against extensive demolition, arguing that "the building is flexible enough to be adapted to suit multiple new uses without the need for extensive demolition".