After the Post Office moved out, various proposals were drawn up for the building,
including conversion into offices, retail space, a pub, student accommodation, and even a film set.
A major factor in any development, however, was that it was a Listed building whose facade could not
be demolished. For a time, as a stop-gap measure, part of the premises were used as an indoor
market, whilst the fabric of the building continued to decay - to the alarm of many Edinburgh
residents.
In June 2001 the matter was finally resolved when one of the UK's leading property developers,
Castlemore Securities Ltd., acquired the site and commissioned the Edinburgh architects,
Hugh Martin Partnership, to design attractive, high quality modern offices within the
existing facade. They produced a bold and innovative solution which provides 217,849
sq.ft of high quality office accommodation on eight floors around a central atrium, with roof gardens,
and a castle viewing deck. A prime consideration, however, was the retention and restoration of
the external walls so that the classical beauty of the original designs will once
again be seen in all its glory. A final detail will be the replacement of the classical
urns along the top of the building, the originals having been removed some years earlier.
In recent years Castlemore has been involved in major, high quality office developments,
often persevering with 'difficult' sites to produce imaginative and highly successful schemes.
The measure of Castlemore's success can be seen by the quality of its tenants, which include some
of the leading names in finance, technology and professional companies, as well as government departments.
Castlemore is a privately-owned company with its headquarters in the West Midlands. In addition to
Waverley Gate, ongoing and recent office developments include Temple Quay, Bristol; Grenfell island,
Maidenhead; Salamanca, Slough; and Belvedere, Basingstoke.
