Hutton in Edinburgh
Tue 7 – Thu 9 Apr 2026
Step into the 1700s and walk through Edinburgh’s landscape with philosopher James Hutton
Step into the 1700s and walk through Edinburgh’s landscape with philosopher James Hutton
Digital archives, bias, and challenges preserving recent cultural heritage
Reformation memory, transformation, and cultural legacy explored through history
Behind-the-scenes tour of historic Thomas Morton Hall venue
Exploring intangible heritage, archives, and community culture in Scotland
Heritage, culture and placemaking shaping resilient Scottish urban futures
Opposes apart-hotel; risks interiors, heritage integrity, and mixed-use balance.
Opposes apart-hotel; risks interiors, heritage integrity, and mixed-use balance.
The Cockburn Association objects to the proposed conversion of 16–26 Forth Street from office use to a large apart-hotel.
While the continued repair and reuse of historic buildings is welcome in principle, the scale and intensity of the proposed development raise significant concerns. The level of internal subdivision required to create approximately ninety visitor accommodation units risks undermining the spatial character and architectural integrity of the listed Georgian interiors.
Concerns also arise regarding the design and scale of the proposed rear extension within the courtyard environment, which must remain clearly subordinate to the historic terrace.
More broadly, the proposal contributes to an increasing pattern of converting buildings within the city centre to visitor accommodation. While tourism is an important part of Edinburgh’s economy, the cumulative loss of employment and mixed-use functions risks undermining the balanced character of the New Town.
For these reasons, the Cockburn Association objects to the proposal and encourages the planning authority to carefully consider both the heritage impacts and the cumulative effects of visitor accommodation within this historic area.
Design misalignment undermines streetscape; redevelopment principle supported
Design misalignment undermines streetscape; redevelopment principle supported
The Cockburn Association supports the principle of redeveloping this long-vacant site and recognises the potential for the proposal to repair the Robertson Avenue streetscape. However, the Association objects to the proposal in its current form.
The architectural elevation does not adequately align with the roofline and horizontal string courses of the adjoining traditional tenement, resulting in an unsatisfactory relationship with the established streetscape. A revised design aligning façade elements with neighbouring architectural datum lines would significantly improve contextual integration.
Clarification is also required regarding:
The Association also reiterates its concern regarding the cumulative concentration of PBSA within the Gorgie and Dalry corridor. While modest in scale individually, such developments may collectively undermine balanced communities if not carefully managed.
A revised design addressing the issues identified above would significantly improve the proposal’s relationship with its context and its contribution to the wider neighbourhood.
