Midlothian Council gives Go-ahead for Landmark 'Chromosome Building'
01 December 2008
Work on a £58 million state-of-the-art research building is due to start on-site on Monday (1 December 2008) at Easter Bush near Penicuik following formal approval of planning permission by Midlothian Council.
The building, which is inspired by the shape of a pair of chromosomes, with coloured panels representing the DNA ‘fins’ which link the office and research laboratory blocks together.
The building, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, will accommodate around 500 scientists from The Roslin Institute and the Scottish Agriculture College, incorporating expertise in areas such as genetics, developmental biology, immunology and infectious disease, neuroscience and behaviour and animal sciences.
Professor David Hume, director of The Roslin Institute, said: “The new building will provide state of the art facilities in which we can undertake research that will strengthen Scotland’s international reputation as a world leader in animal biosciences and will make a major contribution to Scotland’s knowledge economy.
“It will also provide a focal point for the Easter Bush Research Consortium, bringing together scientists from The Roslin Institute, the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, the Scottish Agricultural College and the Moredun Research Institute, with a view to fostering new ideas and streamlining research on animal diseases and its implications for human health.”
Councillor Russell Imrie, Midlothian Council cabinet member for Strategic Services and Chair of the Planning Committee said: “This is a marvellous development for Penicuik and the wider Midlothian economy which could truly have world-wide significance in the longer term.
“Meanwhile, in the short term it will provide a significant boost to the construction industry while in the medium term will bring hundreds of high-quality jobs to Midlothian. Our economic objective is to create up to 10,000 new jobs over the next 12 years and the new research building is very much part of our ‘2020 vision’ for enhancing employment and quality-of-life opportunities for the growing Midlothian population.”
The new building, which is due for completion in 2011, forms part of the University of Edinburgh’s Easter Bush redevelopment project and will be based opposite a new vet school teaching building and the Hospital for Small Animals.
The design of The Roslin Institute building has been warmly welcomed by Architecture Design Scotland (ADS), an organisation set up to inspire better quality of building design. Marc Edmondson of the building’s architects CUH2A commented: “We are aiming to create a landmark building worthy of the world-wide reputation of The Roslin Institute and are delighted that it has already received such positive recognition.”
As well as laboratories and office space, the building incorporates breakout areas and meeting areas to encourage collaboration on scientific research.
Planning permission was granted following an application coordinated and lodged by Ryden on behalf of Roslin Developments Ltd, which is commissioning the building construction. David Tough, Planning Partner at Ryden stated: "We’ve been involved in developments at Easter Bush for many years and this is an exciting building to work on. This is a truly significant development for Midlothian. The quality of its design was recognised by Midlothian Council who worked with us to ensure the application was processed in good time".
