Robert Bruce had been on a mission for over a decade by 1318
A special walking tour with Caribbean British historian, Lisa Williams
How was slavery involved in the building of Scotland’s oldest concert hall?
Edinburgh and the New Town’s history of female scientists
Colony housing represents a very distinctive, immediately recognisable built form
The recognition, recording and protection of Scotland’s post-war designed landscapes
No obvious move to spread Christmas attractions to other residential centres across the city
No obvious move to spread Christmas attractions to other residential centres across the city
Seasonal installations of stalls, fairground rides, an ice rink and associated seasonal attractions and entertainments in Edinburgh city centre are very popular and draw large crowds of residents and visitors each year. Unfortunately, the nature of these attractions, problems with the timing and quality of the associated planning processes and the concentration of attractions in a few central venues and in greenspaces have frequently drawn criticism in recent years. Christmas 2022 was particularly chaotic when the whole event almost did not take place. This year’s planning applications have been presented in a more timely fashion. But their lack of detail is extremely disappointing as is the lack of any sign that the event have been disaggregated to allow similar, though smaller, Christmas 2023 attractions in other commercial and residential centre across the city.
We have objected to all four Christmas 2023 applications. We have done this because, in our view, there is simply not enough information provided in these applications to take an informed and meaningful view on a large number of highly relevant considerations.
These include, but are not limited to, access arrangements, equal access provision, crowd management, actual or potential impacts on heritage and natural assets, consideration of use of soft landscaped area, missed opportunities to use nearby or existing hard standing, event creep, increased footprint, impact on permanent retailers, impact of thoroughfares, noise, sustainable transport, waste management, carbon footprint and carbon mitigation and the cumulative impact of the Christmas 2023 applications: 23/04144/FUL 23/04199/FUL 23/04142/FUL 23/04143/FUL.
These applications are particularly disappointing given the controversies which have surrounded planning applications and the planning process for Christmas installations in the centre of Scotland’s capital year on year.
The lack of any apparent move to disseminate Christmas attractions to other residential centres across the city will disappoint the reasonable expectations of many citizens.
The proposed rooftop bar seems unnecessary in this location
The proposed rooftop bar seems unnecessary in this location
The existing planning permission for the redevelopment of this building as a hotel is noted .
The proposed use as hostel accommodation should diversity the variety and affordability of accommodation available in the city centre.
However, the proposed rooftop bar, which significantly increases the height of the existing building, seems unnecessary for a hostel in the heart of the city centre where so many bars and similar outlets are already available.
Necessary and comprehensive details relating to future access and servicing arrangements for the hostel are not included in the application.
For these reasons, we object to this application.
Changes are not significant in our view
Changes are not significant in our view
The Cockburn Association objected to an earlier version of this application. We note that the current proposal is slightly less high and has an increased footprint but these changes are not significant in our view. We therefore reiterate our objection:
The Cockburn OBJECTS to this application.
We acknowledge that student accommodation developments can bring many benefits to local communities. However, in this relatively small, constrained site the height, size and scale of the proposed development is entirely unacceptable.
This is a largely residential neighbourhood which is not particularly close to any academic centre. The area’s existing architectural context and residential character must inevitably be adversely impacted by a development of the proposed height, mass and scale given its proximity to established residential properties. The potential of the proposed development to adversely impact existing properties in terms of noise, overshadowing and privacy is clear. Policy ENV6 and HOU5 seem particularly relevant to the consideration of this development.
We have also been alerted to detailed observations and comments which have been made by local residents concerning both this development and a related proposal for townhouses on Eyre Place Lane. These detailed observations require full consideration by planning officers.
The lack of a fully up-to-date and comprehensive assessment of both student accommodation demand and existing or approved provision across the city is unhelpful when assessing this or similar applications for student accommodation. In addition, the continuing loss of small industrial sites in the community, such as this development site , actively works against the achievement of the 20 Minute Neighbourhood concept being actively promoted by the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government.
