Estates Department

Pleasance Redevelopment

Central Area Programmme 2015-2018 The University’s Pleasance Complex at 48A-60 Pleasance plays host to a variety of student societies and activities, as well as being the main hub for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Situated around the Pleasance Courtyard, the buildings age from circa 100 to 220 years old and are mostly Category B Listed (48A is Category C Listed). Project Overview This project represents a significant investment in the enhancement of facilities for students at the University as well as the wider community. The University is committed to providing its students with world class facilities as well as anticipating cultural changes and adapting to evolving student requi- rements. Working closely with the students’ association, EUSA, the Pleasance project looks to recon- sider and enhance existing spaces and move towards a more flexible approach in terms of space usage for societies; resulting in a multi-use space that would meet demand for social, study and society needs. The redevelopment will enhance spaces throughout the complex and alterations inclu- de the upgrading of number 60 to provide a new societies hub housing a newspaper office, student radio studios, resource centre and film studio as well as proposing the introduction of a lift to improve access. Recognising the requirements of the student body, the Salisbury Building is being improved to provide multi-use space for societies particularly catering for dance societies. The Quaker Meeting House to the south east of the Pleasance Courtyard is an extremely popular festival venue and the proposals look to make use of this building in a similar capacity throughout the rest of the year, as well as providing a brand new space for student use. The building will be internally upgraded and will be provide a venue that can be adapted from a large open plan space to a venue with fixed seating.

As well as providing improved facilities for students, the proposals will benefit the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with improved access, facilities and technical infrastructure at The Pleasance, though there are no proposals to provide additional venue space. Latest Update The proposed works are to be completed over two phases extending over a two year period - this is to ensure society space remains available throughout as well as avoiding any disruption to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The first phase involving 60 Pleasance, Quaker Meeting House and Salis- bury Building is expected to commence October 2015 with the final phase commencing September 2016. Works to the Theatre Building and 48A Pleasance are expected to commence September 2016 with completion in summer 2017.