Heineken sells Caledonian Brewery site to property developer

The 1.9 acre site, which was opened in 1869, has been closed since May 2022 and was put on sale in November of that year. Production of the Scottish beers previously brewed at the site were moved to Belhaven Brewery following its closure.

Located close to the centre of Edinburgh, Caledonian Brewery came under Heineken’s ownership in 2008 after the brewer acquired the UK assets of previous owner Scottish & Newcastle.

Artisan Real Estate intends to develop the site into a residential development, delivering 170 homes in the process, with a public consultation on the project set to begin next month (February 2024). With offices in Edinburgh, Isle of Wight and Leeds, the firm has completed similar urban regeneration projects in the past such as the New Waverley development in Edinburgh’s old town.

Commenting on the sale of the site, a spokesperson from Heineken UK said: “This is a hugely significant site which has played a key role in the development of brewing in Edinburgh for more than 150 years.​

“It was a very difficult decision to close the site last year, but we are pleased that a developer of Artisan’s pedigree and experience will now take the site forward and preserve many of the brewery’s unique features whilst meeting the varied demands of modern and sustainable city centre living.”​

Meanwhile, Artisan’s Scottish regional director David Westwater said that the site now has the chance to “become an important part of the city’s future​”.

“We plan to create a much needed sustainable, low carbon residential community with around 170 homes providing a healthy mix of accommodation​,” added Westwater.

“This will include a mix of one, two and three-bed apartments through to duplex units and mews houses, of which 35% will be affordable housing in line with the City of Edinburgh Council policy​.”

In other news, Food Manufacture spoke to a number of figures within the drinks industry about the trends that will dominate 2024.​​