BioQuarter includes the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh & Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the entire undeveloped area as illustrated on the emerging masterplan.

The new emerging Masterplan reflects:

• the changing demands in healthcare treatments, diagnostic, preventative, research and education
• the need to grow, attract and retain the community at BioQuarter
• the need to integrate BioQuarter with the changing neighbourhoods surrounding it, including new housing at Edmonstone and Greendykes
• The need to create places where people want to be.

The new vision for BioQuarter can only be realised if more people and life sciences innovators and companies are attracted to work, live, and enjoy leisure time here. It will help to bring activity to the area during evenings and weekends, which will support the principle healthcare use, making BioQuarter more sustainable whilst also creating a sense of community.

The 2013 Masterplan focused on life sciences and supporting uses of a Science Park. We are now seeking to change the development principles to grow BioQuarter into a Health Innovation District with a wider mix of uses sitting alongside the commercial, clinical and research buildings.  This mixed-use new neighbourhood will create a more vibrant and sustainable place.

The timescale for the delivery of the BioQuarter is approximately 10-20 years.

Planning permission in principle was originally granted in 2004 for the early phases of the life sciences development at BioQuarter. This has been updated in two subsequent planning permissions, the latest of which was granted in principle in September 2019.

There has been a substantial number of planning applications relating to Edinburgh BioQuarter in recent years. The visible changes recently are likely to be associated with construction of approved developments, such as the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, which, together with the existing Centre for Regenerative Medicine will bring together the largest number of stem cell scientists on a single site in the world.  In the next few years other developments will include Usher Institute: a hub that will house centres for medical informatics, population health and global health.

All future developments will require planning approval in some form, and BioQuarter partners will fully engage with the local community on these developments as they emerge.

Yes, there will be a chance for the local community, interested parties and key stakeholders to comment on the finalised masterplan following submission to City of Edinburgh Council.

The BioQuarter Partners are forming proposals, in tandem with their emerging masterplan, to develop the site at scale and at pace by working with a private sector partner. This will allow the site to transform into an Innovation District much faster, creating a new vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood of Edinburgh.

The exact number of parking spaces will be determined in agreement with the local planning guidelines. Residents and workers will benefit from excellent public transport links which will significantly reduce the need for car ownership. The city mobility plan 2030 sets out extensive plans for this area including tram line 3.

These are still being developed. However, as part of the masterplan brief, BioQuarter partners have high expectations around sustainability targets to ensure that the development does better than local and national policy requirements.