IT took more than three years, several design changes and much debate but the £300 million project to transform part of Edinburgh's Old Town is finally set to get under way.
After Scottish Ministers ruled out a public inquiry this week and rubber-stamped the city council's decision to grant planning permission for the development, campaigners who fought against Caltongate finally admitted defeat.
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Click here to see a map of how Edinburgh's Old Town is changing - it's quite a big file, so please be patient!The victorious developers Mountgrange, meanwhile, say the scheme, which involves the demolition of two C-listed buildings, includes a five-star hotel and conference centre, 200 new homes, offices, shops, restaurants and a new public square, is a "once-in-a-generation opportunity".
It all started in February 2005, when the plans for the 1.4 hectare site were announced in the Evening News – at that time to the delight of heritage watchdogs and community leaders.
More than 15 years had already passed since the New Street bus depot was put on the market, and hopes of developing the area had floundered on several occasions. Few people could have imagined, therefore, that the proposals would become the most contentious city centre development in Edinburgh's recent history.
Battles raged over controversial plans to knock down two tenements, while plans for a brand new street flowing off New Street through a tunnel on to the Canongate were dumped, and a walkway above New Street was also scaled down. The number of homes planned was cut from 300, while affordable housing was added to the scheme.
One of the most contentious issues proved to be plans to demolish some MacRae tenements on the Royal Mile to form a "breakthrough", and a compromise to form a smaller pend, retaining the majority of the building's facade and keeping housing on three upper floors, was agreed.
Now that the arguing is over and the dust has settled, Mountgrange will sign legal agreements with the council, and prepare to start work before the end of the year. Elements of the scheme should be completed within three years, and Caltongate is due to be completely finished by 2013.
The first phase due to be completed is the building of 36 affordable homes around Calton Road, which was handled separately by the council and received the go-ahead last September. Local residents are also hopeful that the Calton Hill Stairs and Jacob's Ladder will be improved, and Mountgrange, though it does not own the land, today stated it was willing to contribute funds.
Mountgrange spokesman Mark Cummings today said the firm was "delighted" to have reached the stage where the development has finally become a reality. "Caltongate is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to substantially improve Edinburgh's Old Town," he said. "There are significant economic benefits for the city as a whole, including some £300m investment, nearly 2000 new jobs, and Edinburgh's first truly world-class five-star hotel, along with retail and business space."
Not everyone agreed though. The International Council on Monuments and Sites and the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust both objected during the planning process. In total, around 350 individuals and organisations between them lodged more than 1800 objections to various aspects of the project.
A spokeswoman for Unesco's World Heritage Centre today confirmed that a report on Edinburgh's world heritage site would be on the agenda at its conference in Canada next month. An inquiry could then be ordered into whether Edinburgh should be placed on an "at-risk" list.
Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, insisted Caltongate would actually improve the world heritage site. "Redevelopment will not only strengthen the residential population and address the needs of the local community, but will create the opportunity to introduce a variety of a new uses and activities into the city centre."
When Mountgrange bought the site in early in 2005, it began pursuing much bigger plans and said it also wanted to develop the council-owned arches next to Waverley Station. It was one of two potential bidders for the site, with the other an unidentified company. Council officials said at the time that Mountgrange was the only developer that could offer "comprehensive and co-ordinated development for the wider area".
Catriona Grant, chairwoman of the Canongate Community Forum, today said that campaigners were never against development in principle, but opposed the loss of listed buildings and tenements.
"We had to be reactive rather than pro-active, and we were never treated as real partners," she added. "We always felt it was a foregone conclusion."
CHANGING FACE OF PLANS . .• The first blueprint was unveiled in March 2006, with 300 new homes planned.
• In September 2006, the sweeping roadway was ditched and a new opening on to the Royal Mile was designed. A walkway above New Street, linking the new hotel was also scaled down.
Plans to knock down two tenements were altered, and only one building was earmarked for demolition. The total number of homes was put at around 200.
• Mountgrange originally wanted to demolish some MacRae tenements on the Royal Mile but after complaints from city councillors, it was decided to preserve the "majority" of the front and rear elevations.
The full article contains 885 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
