Plans for gap site slammed for being too ‘run-of-the-mill’

A leading heritage watchdog has formally objected to “runof-the-mill” proposals to bring a Haymarket gap site that has been abandoned for 50 years back into use.

The Qmile Group has tabled full revised plans for the £300 million development between Morrison Street and Dalry Road, which includes three office blocks and two hotels, one of which would be fourstar.

If approved by the city council, a new public space will be built in the centre of the five surrounding buildings. The square, which will allow for pedestrian access through the site, is likely to host “a select series of events”, including “pop-up events organised around sporting occasions”.

But heritage watchdog, the Cockburn Association, has labelled the proposals as “simply too bland”. The body also highlighted the plans may not fit into the city centre transformation strategy, which is set to put more focus on public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, while cars could be “treated like guests” in some areas.

In a letter to planners, the Cockburn Association said: “The proposals have some features of interest, particularly the creation of a new area of public space. But we consider the design proposals to be of too poor design quality for this high-profile location.

“The proposals do not seem to either respect or interact with the surrounding architecture and the proposed finishes and elevations are simply too bland, too run-of-themill and not architecturally significant enough for this important city centre site.

“In addition, it is important torecognisethattheemerging city transformation strategy suggests that alternative uses may now be worthy of consideration for this former good yard site such as an innovative goods interchange hub to alleviate vehicular congestion in the city centre.”

The updated plans include 55 underground car parking spaces, but pedestrians charity Livings Streets Edinburgh has also objected to the proposals, believing there should be no car parking at all on the site.

The group said: “The development appears to make little or no contribution to the surrounding pedestrian area.”

A transport statement, submitted alongside plans by the developers, claims the site is “an ideal location to encourage sustainable travel patterns”.