Page 22 - RLI July / August 2019

COVER STORY | EDINBURGH ST JAMES

Redefining the Currently under construction with its doors set to open next

year, Edinburgh St James will be a world renowned, retail-led,

Destination mixed-use destination for the future. Here, RLI sits down
with Martin Perry, Director of Development at Edinburgh St
James, to learn more about this game-changing project.

world-class example of city-enhancing placemaking, “We want the project to have a flavour of the city in Edinburgh St James is also “The thinking behind the scheme
Edinburgh St James is one of the UK’s largest and everything it does, a proper piece of Edinburgh, allowing for committed to setting positive is that Edinburgh has not had any
most significant regeneration projects. It is the complete connectivity across its multiple uses. We have a put green benchmarks, and one of
A direct result of the best in class design and delivery. a lot of work into this idea of partnerships with brands within the key methods of doing this real major investment for a number
With an estimated investment value of over £1bn, the the scheme, but also the partnerships between these brands is the idea of using the waste of years, and this presented the rare
development will create a 1.7 million square feet urban and groups outside of the development. We have built key of one area to power another.
resort, comprising 850,000sq ft of retail space. Edinburgh St relationships with city institutions such as Edinburgh Airport, Perry explains: “Electricity is opportunity to develop a retail-led
James will be anchored by John Lewis, a five-screen Everyman and aligned brands working together like W with Next. We are used for the car parking areas project in a top ten European city”
Cinema, luxury aparthotel brand Roomzzz, and a world-class trying to create a synergy between all the different offerings and the general areas around
244-room W Edinburgh, representing the hotel brand’s first within Edinburgh St James,” explains Perry. the scheme. The by-product of that electricity is hot water,
hotel in Scotland. In addition, 152 private apartments will With such a large-scale project, connectivity and accessibility which can then be used for heating the hotel, the residential or
offer breathtaking views over the city and set a premium has been absolutely vital throughout the planning stages. For the aparthotel, and then any waste from that can in turn be put
standard for prime residential accommodation. example, the main rail station is located just one minute away, through the chillers, which is then used for the air conditioning
“The thinking behind the scheme is that Edinburgh has not as is the main bus station, there are two tram stops on either in the retail units. So in essence we have tried to create this
had any real major investment for a number of years, and side of the scheme, multiple cycle routes and 75 per cent of little micro-ecological system that all works together.”
this presented the rare opportunity to develop a retail-led city centre off-street parking is within a two minute walk. In relation to its social media output and mobile offerings,
project in a top ten European city,” says Martin Perry, Director Being a retail-led scheme, one of the key points of the Edinburgh St James is just employing a key member of the team
of Development at Edinburgh St James. “The project’s retail scheme is the completion of a primary ‘retail circuit’. This will to oversee all of the schemes’ social media outgoings. As well as
and leisure elements are anticipated to complete in 2020 encompass Princes Street, Hanover Street, George Street, this, resources are being utilised to create a one-stop app for the
and we remain on time and budget, which is always a bonus through St Andrew Square and circling back through Multrees project. On this app, people will be able to go on their phone
for a project of this size and scale!” Walk to complete the circuit. and see a whole digital representation of the estate and visitors
The retail leasing began in the autumn of last year. A According to Perry, the site is dotted with anchor points, will be able to browse the retail offering, book a hotel room,
major milestone was reached a number of months ago with including the John Lewis store, while Multrees Walk has sort out evening plans in the cinema and/or restaurant. All of this
the signings of multiple brands from the Inditex group. A a Harvey Nichols department store, with Apple having a is adding to the connectivity of the different uses of the project.
flagship Zara store has been signed, along with leases for a location outside the scheme on Princes Street. If visitors carry Perry feels that the project represents a long-term investment
Stradivarius, a Bershka and a Pull&Bear. along Princes Street they will reach Marks & Spencer, H&M into a city and its culture. Rather than making a profit and return,
Alongside these brands are a number of companies who and Primark before coming back onto George Street, where it is about being a part of a wider city for a long period of time.
are returning to the site after concluding new deals. These White Stuff, All Saints and Hobbs are situated. Visitors can “We believe in this city and its prospects and we’re
include the likes of Next, Superdrug and Boots, adding to then carry on back through to St Andrew Square and Harvey prepared to take a very long view in what we are creating.
what will be an exceptional retail offering on site upon Nichols, completing the retail-led loop for people coming to We genuinely believe this is the future of retail mixed-use
completion, with multiple more deals currently in the pipeline. enjoy Edinburgh St James and the city’s wider offering. development,” concludes Perry.

24 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL JUNE 2019 JULY / AUGUST 2019 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 23