A deep dive into the history of the glass industry in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Celebrate the life and works of Robert Fergusson
Join storyteller extraordinaire Donald Smith for a festival walk and talk tour
Discovering the hidden gems of Granton’s historic and industrial past.
To discuss innovative methods for teaching and tutoring and share success stories
The 149th Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 8 May 2024
Edinburgh and East Lothian Doors Open Days is supported by:
Event Sponsor
The continued demolition of perfectly sound and usable buildings is simply unsupportable
The continued demolition of perfectly sound and usable buildings is simply unsupportable
The Cockburn objects this application.
The proposed demotion of the current building on Ratcliffe Terrace cannot be justified. This quirky, distinctive and highly original building is clearly suitable for continued use or for imaginative conversion. It is of some local heritage interest and a valuable survivor of a Newington streetscape that has lost many similar features of interest and distinction over the years. In the current climate emergency the continued demolition of perfectly sound and usable buildings such as this is simply unsupportable.
We consider that the proposed six-storey purpose-built student residential development has nothing to recommend it. It is of a poor architectural design whose height, scale, bulk, massing, horizontal pattern and materiality are odds with the prevailing streetscape. We question whether this proposal has appropriate levels of internal and external amenity space, external greenspace and adequate access and servicing arrangements.
The design of the proposed building seems to anticipate the potential for future expansion onto adjacent light industrial areas should these become available for redevelopment.
We also note local concerns regarding the increasing concentration of student accommodation blocks in this area of the city. These concerns underline the need for objective, comprehensive and data-driven student needs assessments to accompany every PBSA application.
Images from Edinburgh shops and stores in the 1960s
