Housing vision for secret of Old Town
A hidden gap-site in the heart of the Old Town is set to be transformed into a thriving thoroughfare featuring shops, homes and a public square.
The one-acre plot between Jeffrey Street and the Royal Mile has been lying derelict since a tannery burned down more than 30 years ago.
But the overgrown wasteland can only be seen from the rear of the surrounding tenement buildings.
Almost two years after plans were submitted, Edinburgh City Council chiefs have now finally given developers the green light to build a hotel extension, 70 homes and a small number of shops, offices and restaurants on the land.
The multi-million pound plan will also see historic closes reinstated, allowing pedestrians to wander freely through the area next to the A-listed Trinity College Church apse, which was originally the eastern corner of Trinity College Church, built in 1460.
The proposals were conditionally approved last year, but the planning application went through five revisions before councillors finally gave it the go-ahead this week. The required alterations included the addition of a two-level underground car park, as well as extra social housing.
Trevor Davies, convener of the city's planning committee, said: "It is considered that this is an appropriate location for the proposed mixed-use development.
"The alterations to the listed building, the scale and accessing of the buildings and the proposed materials are considered acceptable and the impacts of the proposal in terms of amenity and traffic and the character and appearance of the conservation area are acceptable. The revisions represent an improvement to the proposal, primarily through a better housing mix, including increased affordable housing provision."
Fifteen per cent of the new residential units will be allocated to social housing provision. The plans also include a 66-bedroom extension to Jury's Hotel, which borders the site on Jeffrey Street.
Morrison's Close and Paisley Close - historic thoroughfares which have been shut down for decades - will be reopened to allow pedestrians to walk from the High Street to Jeffrey Street.
Several enclosures including a centrally-located public square will also be built. New pends will also be created running parallel to the High Street.
The land, immediately behind Jury's is closed to the public and has lain overgrown with trees and weeds since the old tannery building burned down 30 years ago. Most people do not even know the gap-site exists, as it can only be seen by neighbours.
The application was submitted by land owners Capital Land Holdings, which is owned by the London-based Pears family.
Ian Baikie, an Edinburgh-based representative for the company, today said: "We are delighted at long last that this application has been accepted. We have put a lot of hard work into the project and it has finally paid off. We spent a lot of time discussing our plans with Historic Scotland and heritage watchdogs. This is a World Heritage Site so we wanted to make sure we got it right.
"I think our work paid off because everyone is happy with the proposals. It has taken about six years from the inception of the idea to reach this stage. We hope to start building work early next year and complete the project by 2007."
Scotsman.com, 21st August 2004
