Edinburgh’s botanic garden transformation submitted for planning

Plans for the restoration and redevelopment of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh have been lodged with the local authority.The Edinburgh Biomes project includes seven new and three refurbished buildings across two sites spanning both public and research spaces.Plans for the project have been revealed at a time when the garden’s existing glasshouse facilities – including both the Grade A listed Victorian Palm Houses, and 1960’s visitor and research Glasshouses – require extensive refurbishment. It will ensure the glasshouses continue to provide a safe environment for the garden’s plant collection.Designed by Smith Scott Mullan Associates with Nicoll Russell Studios, the first phase will involve the creation of a new, efficient, eco-friendly and sustainable energy centre, and state-of-the-art plant health suite to replace its existing facilities at the nursery to the north of the main garden.The new plant health suite will provide a safe propagation environment. The new energy centre will introduce ground source heat pumps which, coupled with new low heat loss pipework, will reduce the carbon footprint of the glasshouses by 12%.