The Social Hub has submitted plans to reimagine a long‑derelict site in Edinburgh as a £200m hospitality-led scheme.
The company has submitted proposals for the transformation of the former Fountain Brewery site in Fountainbridge, which has stood vacant for around 20 years.
The proposals centre include a 580-bed facility providing student, hotel and extended-stay accommodation, with a fixed co-working area for up to 300 people and flexible space for thousands more. The scheme will also feature a restaurant, café, rooftop bar, clubhouse, theatre and a gym.
The development forms part of the wider masterplan to regenerate the area and will help unlock affordable housing, now being progressed by the council, alongside a new canal-side public square designed to bring people together.
Charlie MacGregor, founder and CEO of The Social Hub, said: “Submitting these plans is a landmark moment – not just for The Social Hub, but for me personally. Edinburgh is my home city, and bringing our model here is something I’ve dreamed of for years. We’ve listened closely to the Fountainbridge community, understood what the area needs, and shaped a scheme designed to make a lasting, positive impact.
“Glasgow has shown the power of our model to bring students, neighbours, entrepreneurs, and visitors together. Now we want to spark that same energy in Edinburgh – a place woven into the life of the city, where connection and creativity don’t just happen, they thrive, and where social impact becomes part of everyday life.”
