Supporting a community hub for the future
Plans are in place to carry out essential repairs and light refurbishment to Madelvic House, helping to preserve the Grade-B listed building and secure its long-term future.
The building’s story
Madelvic House, situated on Granton Park Avenue, was built in 1898 as offices for the adjacent production block of the Madelvic Motor Carriage Company, the UK’s first electric car factory or “horseless carriages”.
Madelvic went bankrupt in 1900, and the premises were first sold to the Kingsburgh Motor Construction Co, and then in 1902 to Stirling Motor Carriages Ltd which produced mainly buses and lorries here until 1912.
The category B-listed building is now a thriving community hub home to the arts charity Granton:Hub, The Arc community archive project and Forth Children’s Theatre.
Proposed works
The proposed works include repairs to the roof, external walls and windows, internal redecoration, improvements to security and accessibility. Upgrades to the archive storage facilities will also provide better protection and cataloguing of the “The Arc” community archive.
Collectively these improvements aim to preserve the character of the building while significantly improving the experience for those who use it.
Progress is already underway with detailed design work being undertaken. The full refurbishment is due to take place late 2026/early 2027.
Key benefits
The project aims to:
- Protect the building from disrepair; securing its long-term sustainability and reducing the likelihood of costly future repairs whilst preserving its character and local value.
- Enhancing the day-to-day useability for community groups who operate there, improving access, security, accessibility, and creating a more welcoming and comfortable space.
- Strengthening the building’s role as a trusted historical archive facility and community hub.
Looking ahead
The building will continue to serve as a home for community-focussed organisations and a dedicated community archive project, providing a shared space for local activity, learning and engagement.
Building on current improvements, there are also ambitions for further investment to enhance the facilities over time, ensuring the space remains resilient, adaptable and well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of the community.
Support and Acknowledgements
To deliver these works, the Council has assembled a budget of £240k, with funding secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (£87k) and Historic Environment Scotland (£153k).
