Netflix plans to demolish Department Q police headquarters

Argyle House could be replaced by a "mixed-use" development that would include a hotel, residential properties, offices, and retail space.

Located in West Port, in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, this 1960s Brutalist block was used for exterior scenes of the police station in the streaming giant's series.

Public consultations on these proposals are scheduled to take place in December and January.

The Application Notice (PAN) submitted to the local authority proposes plans to "demolish the existing building and redevelop the site."

Argyle House, built between 1966 and 1969, is often considered one of Edinburgh's least attractive architectural masterpieces.

The block was sold to the American firm PGIM Real Estate in 2023 for approximately £38 million ($47 million).

It was initially built to house local and national government offices, but is now home to several different firms.

The front of the building was also the headquarters of the fictional Lothian Police Force in the ITV series Crime, written by Irvine Welsh.

The previous annexe, located on Johnston Terrace, is home to the technical workplace Codebase and was used in Department Q, which debuted on Netflix earlier this year.

It originated in Copenhagen and was based on the books by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen, but was relocated to Edinburgh before coming to the small screen.

In August, Netflix announced that the series, starring Matthew Goode and DCI Carl Mork, head of the Cold Case Department, would return for a second season.

Telereal Trillium, which leases the facility from PGIM to Codebase, has a lease on the building until 2033.

A spokesperson for Codebase said there would be "no immediate impact" on those using the building.

They added: "We remain secure in Argyle House for at least the next year, and we're continuing to work towards a longer-term commitment that ensures the future of CodeBase Edinburgh, whether that be at Argyle House or elsewhere."

Two public consultation events on the proposed demolition will be held at the Edinburgh Futures Institute on 2 December and 28 January 2026.