VISIONS of a towering hotel next to Haymarket Station have already become the most controversial attempt at altering Edinburgh's skyline in recent memory.
But the developers behind the £200 million project are now set to ruffle more feathers by bidding to add another storey to the massive building.
Revised proposals for the site of the former Morrison Street goods yard have been submitted to the council, following months of negotiations with city planners.
The council officials have urged Irish developer Tiger to boost public facilities at the leaf-shaped hotel's ground level, such as adding another cafe or sandwich bar and providing a main entrance facing Haymarket Station.
With an additional floor at the foot of the five-star hotel, the building would be extended by nearly six metres to 17 storeys.
The unusual move will anger critics such as the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, which has already warned that classic views of the city are under threat.
Normally, developers hoping to build tall buildings in Edinburgh propose a maximum height early in the planning process, then lower the structure in the face of expected opposition. But award-winning architect Richard Murphy, who is leading the design team, today made no apologies for the changes, which also include reconfiguring the hotel to be slimmer and more "elegant".
"We do want to see this building – in the same way that we want to see St Mary's Cathedral," he said.
"We're not pretending we won't be able to see it – this is another hotel like the Balmoral and will take its place among the civic buildings of Edinburgh. The city is not frozen in time and can accept new civic buildings."
The developers insist the plans will not impact on views of landmarks such as the Castle by meeting requirements outlined in the council's study of Edinburgh's skyline.
Councillors are set to discuss the scheme at a planning committee next month.
Other changes submitted today include boosting the number of bedrooms in the main hotel from 180 to 192. Luxury chain InterContinental – which has only one hotel in the UK – is set to run the complex, which includes a swimming pool on the 15th floor, a major public bar also at the top of the hotel and conference facilities with views of the Castle.
The overall project, called "The Haymarket", also includes a neighbouring three-star, 246-bedroom Travelodge, offices, shops and restaurants and cafes.
The main elements of the masterplan remain largely unchanged, but the tower's landmark roof, upper floors and façade have also been re-modelled in the wake of discussions with council officials.
Other changes include more public and pedestrian space outside the five-star hotel, the entrance to the Travelodge has been re-modelled, and the north and south ends of the office block facing Morrison Street have been re-designed to better match with the architecture of adjoining buildings.
A cafe-lined boulevard through the centre of the site extending from Morrison Street to Dalry Road, creating a major pedestrian thoroughfare linking Haymarket and the financial Exchange, remains a key part of the scheme. Around 335,000sq ft of office space is still proposed.
John Nesbitt, managing director of Tiger, said today: "We have always believed that the process of consultation stretched beyond the submission of the planning application last August.
"The purpose of this extensive consultation with the local authority, the community and other key groups was to listen and take on board their views and this has been extremely productive.
"The amendments demonstrate how serious we are about re-developing this site and these changes will ensure the very best solution for this challenging area of the city.
"We look forward to Edinburgh City Council considering our proposals in due course."
Mr Murphy added: "The modifications to the five-star hotel have improved the proportions of the building.
"The hotel will now be more closely integrated with Haymarket Station and the wider area.
"We have always been conscious that a site of such significance requires a thoughtful and careful approach involving key stakeholders at every opportunity.
"The amendments reflect our commitment to designing a scheme of the highest quality."
Tiger hopes to begin work on The Haymarket next year, with an estimated completion date of 2012.
Last year, the Architecture and Design Scotland (ADS) quango highlighted concerns about the design and location of the main hotel, while the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust recently said it would "overshadow the existing buildings and townscape".
The Cockburn Association, Edinburgh's Civic Trust, also objected and local residents said the scheme was "ghastly".
But Historic Scotland has put itself at odds with critics by giving its endorsement, saying the project is a "marked improvement" on previous plans for the gap site.
CHANGING VISION FOR GOODS YARD
THE former Morrison Street goods yard has lain nearly derelict for around 40 years and at one point was considered as a home for the Scottish Parliament.
In 2002, plans were unveiled by EDI, the council's development company, to build offices, shops, restaurants, bars, new public squares and thoroughfares.
The plans were turned down by councillors in November 2003. EDI then made a series of changes to its plans and won planning permission in August 2004, but objections triggered a public inquiry. In December 2005, ministers approved the £70 million scheme. However, the whole proposal was sent back to the drawing board in 2006 when EDI was forced to put the site on the market because of the council's decision to use the firm's assets to help finance a massive equal pay settlement.
The sale sparked a bidding war, with a final price thought to be £41.5m.
Tiger Developments beat off competition from 13 other bidders, and unveiled its masterplan last September.
The full article contains 984 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
