Edinburgh Flats, Hull Church Conversions Approved

Two major redevelopment projects involving former community buildings have recently been approved in the UK. In Edinburgh, Cruden Homes received planning permission to demolish the vacant St John Vianney’s Roman Catholic Church, built in the 1950s, to create 35 affordable, environmentally sustainable homes with high insulation, zero-emission heating, and significant green space. Fraser Lynes, Managing Director of Cruden Homes, highlighted the project's alignment with Edinburgh’s net-zero ambitions and community needs. Meanwhile, in Hull, plans were approved to convert the former Cecil Cinema and Mecca Bingo hall, closed since 2023, into a new church for the Calvary International Christian Centre, which currently holds services elsewhere in the city. The church’s redevelopment plans include a main auditorium on the ground floor, though few design details were released. These projects reflect ongoing efforts to repurpose redundant buildings to meet housing demands and community needs while supporting sustainable urban development.