In 1986 the Edinburgh District Council (EDC) established a Property Repair Scheme for the tenements in Saint Mary’s Street which had become badly maintained due to the planning blight that followed from The Buchanan Report ( 1965) which would have involved the demolition of most properties in the street.

A plan was developed in consultation with residents and owners of property and a scheme was approved that required the demolition of a warehouse, the creation of a roof-deck and a garden space at the east of the southern tenement block.

Commercial proprietors whose properties included a saloon extension in this block agreed to have their single-story extension decked with concrete beams and covered with asphalt to create a leisure space and drying green for the benefit of the tenement residents. This benefit extended to a the creation of a landscaped and planted garden for the benefit of all tenants and owners in this block.

The Saint Mary’s Street Garden Community Trust was established in 2025 as a Charitable Body to manage the garden.

Membership of the Trust is open to all residents and owners within a specified address list and trustees are elected by members to undertake the management of the trust.