Hotel bid is attacked as threat to heritage site
A HERITAGE watchdog has criticised a Royal Bank of Scotland hotel and homes plan for the Scottish capital, claiming it inflicts “unacceptable damage to the setting of the World Heritage Site” that it borders.
The Cockburn Association is one of hundreds to object to the plan for Dundas Street in the New Town when the bank vacates the site next year and calls on Edinburgh City Council to reject the proposal.
The bank’s plans received 452 comments, 445 of which were objections, three in support and non-defined.
The Cockburn Association the rest also said the plans for the site, which sits between Eyre Place and Fettes Row, conflict with key local heritage policies and affect the ambience of King George V Park, which the new buildings would also overlook.
The association said “the quantum of the current proposals would result in unacceptable damage to the setting of the internationally significant World Heritage Site, the New Town Garden and Designed Landscape, listed buildings, the New Town Conservation Area, the local character, environmen- tal quality and the residential amenity of the site”.
Association director Marion Williams added: “We are concerned that the amenity and ‘sense of place’ of the public park adjacent to the site will be negatively impacted.”
A spokeswoman for the Royal said it is “giving full and careful consideration of the impact of the development in the preparation of the proposals” and “ultimately we will look to sell the site to developers who can realise the site’s potential, in line with planning guidelines”.