Wester Hailes
Encyclopedia
Wester Hailes is an area in the south west of Edinburgh
, Scotland
.
Depending on the definition, Wester Hailes sometimes takes in Sighthill
, the Calders
and other surrounding areas, and may be said to contain the areas of Murrayburn, Clovenstone, Westburn and Dumbryden.
Wester Hailes borders on Kingsknowe
and Longstone
to the east. Bankhead Industrial Estate and Sighthill Park lie to the north.
only a short distance to the south. Bus services departing here are the 3, 18, 20,21, 30, 32 & 33 provided by Lothian Buses
, with destinations including the city centre, Gyle Shopping centre, Western & General Hospital, the Herminston Gait shopping complex and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in Little France
. Service 44 passes nearby to the south on its way to Currie & Balerno; services 25, 34 and 35 pass nearby to the north, with destinations including Edinburgh Airport
, Hermiston
Park & Ride
and Heriot-Watt University
's Riccarton
Campus. Also located on Murrayburn Road is a Shell Garage. There is also pedestrian and cycle access east towards the city centre via the Union Canal
.
s.
It was extensively redeveloped during the 1990s and 2000s with a large number of properties being renovated and some others -such as the high rise "slab block" flats at Hailesland Park- being demolished and replaced with newer "low-rise" housing. As well as council and private housing, there is a community housing association called Prospect Community Housing based in Westburn Avenue, who have housing in the Westburn, Clovenstone, Walkers, Barn Park areas of Wester Hailes.
, Jobcentre, council housing
office, library, newsagent, a bingo hall, an Odeon
cinema and a collection of shops both adjacent to and inside the Wester Hailes Shopping Centre. A post office
, opticians, pharmacy, dentist and local market can be found inside the latter.
Local education centres include Stevenson College
, the Wester Hailes Education Centre, the Sighthill
campus of Napier University
and the main campus of Heriot-Watt University
to the west, in Riccarton
.
A large swimming pool is located in the Wester Hailes Education Centre. An outdoor children's adventure playground originally existed in the early 1980s, but was closed due to safety concerns.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Depending on the definition, Wester Hailes sometimes takes in Sighthill
Sighthill, Edinburgh
Sighthill is a suburb in the west of Edinburgh, Scotland.For nearly 50 years, the West Edinburgh skyline was dominated by 4 high rise residential tower blocks the first of which was demolished on 21st September 2008 with the other three blocks following the same fate just over 3 years later...
, the Calders
The Calders
The Calders are a mainly residential part of Sighthill, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is sometimes considered to be part of Wester Hailes or Sighthill. They are not to be confused with the Calders of West Lothian, aka West Calder, Mid Calder and East Calder. The Union Canal goes by here into the city....
and other surrounding areas, and may be said to contain the areas of Murrayburn, Clovenstone, Westburn and Dumbryden.
Wester Hailes borders on Kingsknowe
Kingsknowe
Kingsknowe is a suburb of Edinburgh the capital of Scotland. It is south-west of Craiglockhart. It borders Wester Hailes, Slateford and Longstone...
and Longstone
Longstone
Longstone is a suburb of Edinburgh in Scotland. It borders Saughton, Wester Hailes, Slateford, Kingsknowe and Parkhead.Longstone's most dramatic features are the Slateford Aqueduct carrying the Union Canal and the adjacent railway viaduct . Underneath these runs the Water of Leith, and the canal...
to the east. Bankhead Industrial Estate and Sighthill Park lie to the north.
Transport links
The main points of arrival and departure for Wester Hailes are the string of bus stops located on the northern edge of Westside Plaza (formerly Wester Hailes Shopping Centre), and the railway stationWester Hailes railway station
Wester Hailes railway station is a railway station serving Wester Hailes in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is located on the Edinburgh branch of the West Coast Main Line, but is not served by inter-city services - these are provided via the Shotts Line of the SPT network. The...
only a short distance to the south. Bus services departing here are the 3, 18, 20,21, 30, 32 & 33 provided by Lothian Buses
Lothian Buses
Lothian Buses Plc is the only municipal bus company in Scotland and the largest provider of bus services in Edinburgh, Scotland. City of Edinburgh Council own 91.01% of the company with the remainder being owned by East Lothian and Midlothian councils. As well as serving Edinburgh, Lothian Buses...
, with destinations including the city centre, Gyle Shopping centre, Western & General Hospital, the Herminston Gait shopping complex and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in Little France
Little France
Little France is a suburb of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is on the A7.The area falls within the parish of Liberton, and acquired its name from members of the entourage brought to Scotland from France by Mary, Queen of Scots, who took up residence there...
. Service 44 passes nearby to the south on its way to Currie & Balerno; services 25, 34 and 35 pass nearby to the north, with destinations including Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Airport is located at Turnhouse in the City of Edinburgh, Scotland, and was the busiest airport in Scotland in 2010, handling just under 8.6 million passengers in that year. It was also the sixth busiest airport in the UK by passengers and the fifth busiest by aircraft movements...
, Hermiston
Hermiston, Edinburgh
Hermiston is a suburb of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is north of Riccarton. The Union Canal passes through the new Hermiston Quay development.-Sources:...
Park & Ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
and Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is a university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name commemorates George Heriot, the 16th century financier to King James, and James Watt, the great 18th century inventor and engineer....
's Riccarton
Riccarton, Edinburgh
Riccarton is an area in Edinburgh's Green Belt, in Scotland. It is mainly undeveloped, with much farmland and few houses.Riccarton is to the west of the Edinburgh City Bypass , and is known for being the location of Heriot-Watt University's main campus, as well as the Heart of Midlothian F.C...
Campus. Also located on Murrayburn Road is a Shell Garage. There is also pedestrian and cycle access east towards the city centre via the Union Canal
Union Canal
Union Canal is a placename:* Union Canal , a canal in Scotland between Edinburgh and Falkirk* Union Canal , a nineteenth century canal in Pennsylvania, United States, closed in 1880...
.
History
Although named for a large private house, the area was not substantially developed until the early 1970s, which is reflected in the dominant housing styles, mainly purpose-built flats and tower blockTower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
s.
It was extensively redeveloped during the 1990s and 2000s with a large number of properties being renovated and some others -such as the high rise "slab block" flats at Hailesland Park- being demolished and replaced with newer "low-rise" housing. As well as council and private housing, there is a community housing association called Prospect Community Housing based in Westburn Avenue, who have housing in the Westburn, Clovenstone, Walkers, Barn Park areas of Wester Hailes.
Facilities
Westside Plaza is the main social and shopping hub of the area, comprising a public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, Jobcentre, council housing
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
office, library, newsagent, a bingo hall, an Odeon
Odeon Cinemas
Odeon Cinemas is a British chain of cinemas, one of the largest in Europe. It is owned by Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group whose ultimate parent is Terra Firma Capital Partners.-History:Odeon Cinemas was created in 1928 by Oscar Deutsch...
cinema and a collection of shops both adjacent to and inside the Wester Hailes Shopping Centre. A post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, opticians, pharmacy, dentist and local market can be found inside the latter.
Local education centres include Stevenson College
Stevenson College, Edinburgh
Stevenson College Edinburgh, Edinburgh is one of the largest further education colleges in Scotland. It was founded in 1970, and is named after famous Scottish engineer, Robert Stevenson...
, the Wester Hailes Education Centre, the Sighthill
Sighthill, Edinburgh
Sighthill is a suburb in the west of Edinburgh, Scotland.For nearly 50 years, the West Edinburgh skyline was dominated by 4 high rise residential tower blocks the first of which was demolished on 21st September 2008 with the other three blocks following the same fate just over 3 years later...
campus of Napier University
Napier University
Edinburgh Napier is one of the largest higher education institutions in Scotland with over 17,000 students, including nearly 5,000 international students, from more than 100 nations worldwide.-History:...
and the main campus of Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University is a university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name commemorates George Heriot, the 16th century financier to King James, and James Watt, the great 18th century inventor and engineer....
to the west, in Riccarton
Riccarton, Edinburgh
Riccarton is an area in Edinburgh's Green Belt, in Scotland. It is mainly undeveloped, with much farmland and few houses.Riccarton is to the west of the Edinburgh City Bypass , and is known for being the location of Heriot-Watt University's main campus, as well as the Heart of Midlothian F.C...
.
A large swimming pool is located in the Wester Hailes Education Centre. An outdoor children's adventure playground originally existed in the early 1980s, but was closed due to safety concerns.