Granton Station Platforms

Cockburn Response

The proposal to convert the disused railway platforms beside the B-listed Granton Station Creative Works into landscaped planters with gravel surfaces and public artworks is recognised as a continuation of the area’s cultural regeneration. The former station building, restored and reopened as an artist-led creative hub, has already become a focal point for local creative activity and forms part of the wider Granton Waterfront regeneration. In this context, revitalising the platforms  with planting and artworks offers a sensitive way of extending the life of the site and enhancing the public realm around Station Square.

While the ambition of the scheme is welcomed, it is regrettable that the proposals do not incorporate any interpretation of the site’s railway heritage. Such elements could help to connect the creative re-use of the building and platforms more directly with the history of Granton’s industrial past, enriching the experience for visitors and local communities alike. It is also important to emphasise the need for good long-term maintenance of both the planting and any artworks to ensure that the quality of the environment is sustained and the benefits of the project are secured into the future.