Clarity from IOD

David Watt of the Institute of Directors would appear to be a hawkish pro-developer as far as Edinburgh is concerned (‘Plans to let Edinburgh bloom’; Scotsman, July 8).

Edinburgh’s “future wealth and success”, in his view, is predicated to a great extent on encouraging speculative volume housing on the green belt, otherwise known as suburban sprawl, which simply puts further strain on transport and communications infrastructure.

He also includes in “fantastic examples of what happens when a city is open to investment” the state-subsidised St James Development, with a vast shopping mall which threatens to undermine the already challenged retail businesses on Princes Street and George Street.

He is less clear, however, on what he advocates for the Royal High School.

Is he lobbying for the Rosewood hotel proposal, which will see the A-listed building flanked by modernist accommodation blocks, or does he support the proposal to convert it into a music school and performance venue, which currently has planning permission?

More to the point, does he speak for himself, or are those the views of the Institute of Directors?

A little clarity would not go amiss.

DAVID J BLACK Glanville Place, Edinburgh