A FORMER city primary school is to be turned into luxury apartments by the end of the year.
The B-listed St Bernard's Primary in Stockbridge has been empty for years, but is now being converted into 18 apartments by property group Heritor's.
A further two town houses and a car park are set to be created in the former school grounds, whil
e the old janitor's house will also be turned into a luxury home.
Residents living near the building in Dean Park Street have welcomed the redevelopment.
The building was listed in 1994 and developers say they are retaining its traditional features.
Chris Buchan, a former Hong Kong lawyer who returned to Edinburgh four years ago to set up Heritor's, said: "It's a very traditional building and it's slightly sad it was allowed to sit vacant for as long as it did. We are doing all the necessary work to restore the stonework.
"We will also be having some duplex flats in there because we have to work within the constraints of the existing building."
Heritor's acquired the building in May 2006 from another developer which pulled out of the project after gaining planning permission for the redevelopment.
Mr Buchan said most of the apartments would be ready by the end of the year. He added: "Our intention is to rent these out and our rental market is the corporate professional market.
"They are prime properties for corporate tenants who want to be located in the centre of Edinburgh."
One resident – who said the school had been "left to rot" over the years – said he is relieved it is being redeveloped as he feared the alternative would be demolishing the building to make way for a host of new-build flats.
Inverleith councillor Stuart McIvor is also supportive of the development plans.
He said: "If the residents are pleased, I'm pleased. I'm all for B-listed buildings being brought back into use so I have no objections at all.
"I know Stockbridge residents are always concerned about these kinds of developments but this seems to be one of the better ones."
Heritor's is also behind the refurbishment of former boarding houses at Edinburgh Academy.
The former Jeffrey, Scott and Mackenzie boarding houses were bought late last year for £11.5 million and their refurbishment is expected to create the city's costliest rented flats.
The luxury flats are also aimed at the corporate sector and are expected to rake in more than the current rent "ceiling" in the city of £3500 a month.
The full article contains 434 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
