Overview of Craigmillar

A district of Edinburgh, dominated by a large and somewhat desolate public housing estate. Towards its southern boundary lies the noteworthy 15th Century Craigmillar Castle. The public housing estate was begun to the south of the brewery complex at Peffermill immediately before World War II to provide homes for families displaced from the slums of the Old Town which were being cleared. Two tower blocks were added in the late 1960s. By this time, Craigmillar gained a reputation for social problems and by the 1980s these included drugs-related crimes.

The Craigmillar Festival Society was an early example of a community support group, which was formed in the 1960s to run a local festival but has developed to take a significant role in improving the social conditions and environment in the district. It is now Craigmillar's major employer and runs employment training schemes for the community.

The Scottish Office designated Craigmillar a priority area for community regeneration in 1996. By 1999, many of the unoccupied blocks were demolished and by 2001 significant redevelopment had taken place, creating more than 1000 new homes, a Health Centre and a Community Business Centre.