Kier has begun work to transform Edinburgh's historic Granton Station.

Appointed by the City of Edinburgh Council and part funded by Scottish Government, this project is part of the wider Granton Waterfront £1.3bn regeneration scheme.

A turf-cutting event was held to celebrate the start on site and was attended by councillor Cammy Day and Andy McTavish from Kier.

Procured through the SCAPE Construction direct award framework, Kier is turning the former station into a high-quality creative workspace that will be ready for occupants in spring 2022.

Kier has vast experience modernising and refurbishing heritage buildings and is currently on at the Burrell Museum and Citizen's Theatre in Scotland and we have pledged to deliver the following social value using the Scape Framework employment and skills methodology:

• Three new created jobs

• Six work experience placements

• 20 weeks for an existing apprenticeship

• Four construction curriculum events

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• 14 supply chain events

• Two community benefit events

Phil McDowell, regional director at Kier Regional Building North & Scotland, said: "Granton station dates back to the Edwardian times, it an important historical building for Edinburgh and we are proud to be renovating it into a modern work space that will once again effectively support the local community.

"We will work collaboratively with Edinburgh Council and our local supply chain partners to deliver this important project which will support the wider transformation of Granton Waterfront."

Cllr Cammy Day, Depute Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: "It's great to see work starting now as the wider Granton Waterfront project is really taking off. We've already got three affordable housing sites underway and the former gasholder is illuminated now as a beacon of light for the project for everyone visiting the area to see. This is shaping up to be one of Scotland's leading sustainable new districts and being built at the Waterfront it really will be another fantastic place to live, work and visit in Edinburgh. We're speaking to the local community every step of the way on the Granton Waterfront regeneration and we've just finished consulting on a new name for the new public square outside the former station, which we will be announcing shortly."

Cllr Adam McVey, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: "It's great to see work starting to bring this much-loved Edwardian building back to life to serve the community it's central to once again. The former Granton Station has a rich industrial heritage which we're going to display on the site hoardings while work continues. The project will provide a number of jobs while construction is ongoing and the future new enterprise will generate valuable quality local employment opportunities for Edinburgh."