Leith Walk

Firethorn Trust and host partner Ogilvie Construction acquired a derelict brownfield site on Leith Walk with the aspiration to develop a purpose-built student accommodation block to house 230 students. The project needed to maximise delivery on a constrained, sloping site while including ancillary facilities—gym, cinema, laundry and cycle parking—and establish a welcoming public realm to integrate seamlessly into the wider Edinburgh streetscape.

G&T is providing Project Management services, overseeing all stages from early design through to construction. We coordinated multi-disciplinary design and engineering teams, managed procurement and led engagement with local stakeholders to ensure smooth progression. We implemented a phased, site-specific strategy to tackle groundworks, services infrastructure and the podium block arrangement—all designed to support mixed-use viability and fit within tight site constraints.

Construction milestones have been reached and the development is progressing on schedule towards completion in 2026. The six-storey building will deliver 230 high-quality student rooms, alongside communal amenity spaces and upgraded public realm, all built to BREEAM standards targeting an 'Excellent' rating. With G&T’s proactive project leadership, the scheme is now a catalyst for regeneration on Leith Walk and a high-quality addition to Edinburgh’s built environment.