IT is a far cry the hustle and bustle of hospital life that this area was once known for.

A stylish public square, lined with restaurants and pavement cafes, was today unveiled as the centrepiece of the giant Quartermile development.

The square – in the heart of the old site of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Lauriston Place – may even become home to live music and Fringe performances.

Colin MacPherson, development director Gladedale Capital, the firm behind Quartermile, predicted the new square will really come alive during the festival season.

Colin MacPherson, Gladedale's development director, said: "We want it to be busy and a small stage could be set up – especially at festival time – to help make that happen. This whole side of town is already changing and will continue to in the next few years.

"The university is already doing work next door and there is also the new infomatics centre.

"There is a lot going on and we are trying to take that into account to allow more opportunities to go and shop or go to restaurants in the Southside."

Quartermile is close to Bristo Square and George Square, which host tens of thousands of Fringe visitors each year, and the developers hope their site can become part of that.

A Fringe spokeswoman said: "We're excited to hear more about how Quartermile might offer a range of performance spaces to Fringe shows and street performers."

There has already been interest from restaurants wanting to lease the glass-encased two-storey building to the north of the square. And it is intended that the bottom floor of the office building will have retail or restaurant use.

Gladedale is still to make a final decision on what to do with the remainder of Red House, the small former nurses' home on the square, although it is considering a cafe or restaurant.

"The public space is a big part of the whole story at Quartermile," said Mr MacPherson.

"On days like today we hope that the square will be a very busy place where you can have a meal or a sandwich.

"Having a number of restaurants around and about will help add to the whole feeling of the place.

"With this development, the whole masterplan has been about opening the site up and making it more accessible.

"Six or seven years ago you wouldn't have come to this site unless you were going into the hospital, but we want to make it a destination."

The public square and buildings around it are not due to be completed until October 2009, but law firm Morton Fraser has already agreed to pre-let space in the six-storey office block.

The developer is also marketing two listed buildings at the site for conversion into a 50,000 sq ft boutique hotel with around 65 rooms.

Linda Urquhart, chief executive of Morton Fraser, said: "This move for our Edinburgh team to new purpose-built premises at Quartermile marks another significant milestone for Morton Fraser."

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