The Holyrood Park Distillery will bring the existing Category B Listed building on St Leonard’s Lane in Edinburgh back into working use as place of production that will be experienced by a wide range of visitors.

Designed by Edinburgh-based 7N Architects, the £3.6 million will restore single malt distilling to the city after 90 years.

The Holyrood Park Distillery is a joint development by David Robertson, former Master Distiller for The Macallan, and Rob and Kelly Carpenter, founders of the Canadian branch of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

It will be Edinburgh’s first single malt whisky distillery since Glen Sciennes closed in the 1920s.

Mr Robertson said: “After years of hard work, our team’s dream of bringing single malt whisky distilling back to Edinburgh is set to become a reality.

“We worked closely with local residents and businesses to build a proposal that will benefit the local community as well as Edinburgh as a whole.

“Work will start later this year and throughout 2017 and by 2018 we hope to be producing beautiful, hand-crafted spirits at our world-class distillery and visitor experience in the heart of Edinburgh.”

7N’s approach is to retain the historic external fabric of the Listed building whilst making considered alterations to the internal structure to adapt it to the requirements of the distilling process and the visitor experience. These proposed alterations principally involve the formation of new openings within the secondary timber floor structure whilst retaining the integrity of the primary cast iron and steel structure. In many respects, this is a continuation of the functional adaptations which have been undertaken on this working building over the years.

The proposals will open up the structure and reveal the fabric of the interior so that they become an integral part of the visitor experience and resonate with the historic dimension of distilling in Scotland. The new gatehouse and canopy structure are clearly expressed as new, contemporary, elements, which complement the materiality of the context whilst taking reference from the additive dark timber structures which were appended to the main Engine Shed building in the 19th and early 20th century.

These new structures combine with the existing Engine Shed building to create a composition of new and old elements which provide a sense of definition and enclosure to the courtyard space whilst enhancing the experience of arrival and the entrance to the building. The canopy will also function as a shelter for outdoor events and gatherings which will enliven the courtyard.

The team behind the development has held consultations with local residents and businesses to shape plans, and has taken neighbours’ feedback on board in the approved proposals.

Work will start on site in the coming months and the business aims to start distilling and open its doors to the public in 2018.