Millbank Pavilion A, B Astley Ainslie Hospital

Cockburn Response

The Cockburn Association objects to the proposed demolition of the Millbank Pavilion, a modest but historically and socially significant structure built in 1928 as a convalescent ward for tuberculosis patients. Although the building is not statutorily listed, it forms an important part of the architectural and landscape character of the wider Astley Ainslie Hospital site, which sits within the Grange Conservation Area and carries a strong association with Edinburgh’s healthcare and civic heritage.

This application must be assessed in light of Policy ENV 2 of the adopted Edinburgh Local Development Plan, which states that proposals involving demolition in a conservation area will not be permitted unless it can be clearly demonstrated that:

• The building is of no architectural or historic interest;
• The structural condition rules out retention at reasonable cost;
• The demolition is essential to delivering significant public benefits; and
• Any replacement will preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the area.

In our view, the current application does not meet these tests. The building’s original function and surviving form offer tangible links to Edinburgh’s public health legacy. Its retention was specifically identified in both the City of Edinburgh Council’s Place Brief (2020) and the Astley Ainslie Community Trust’s feasibility study as a strong candidate for sensitive conversion—demonstrating clear potential for reuse. The justification presented, citing asbestos and structural issues, appears inconsistent with this recent guidance and lacks transparent, conservation-led assessment.

Moreover, determining the fate of individual buildings on the site in advance of an approved, comprehensive masterplan or Local Place Plan is premature. This piecemeal approach risks eroding the integrity of the site’s historic environment and undermining meaningful community-led development. We urge the Council to uphold its commitment to plan-led, participatory regeneration, particularly on a site of such long-standing civic importance.

The demolition of the Millbank Pavilion would represent an unnecessary and irreversible loss of Edinburgh’s built heritage, setting an unfortunate precedent for further erosion of valued historic fabric. We therefore recommend refusal of this application, and call instead for proper heritage appraisal, sustainability analysis, and engagement with the community to explore viable alternatives.