Council refuse application to demolish gasholder

The City of Edinburgh Council and Historic Scotland have decided on the fate of the gasholder at The Forthquarter, Granton. They have refused the owners, National Grid, permission to demolish it.

National Grid said they are extremely disappointed with the decision.

The National Grid Project team has been involved in lengthy negotiations with Historic Scotland and with City of Edinburgh planning officials over the holder’s future and have detailed the problems associated with trying to retain the structure.

Sales and Lettings Manager, Jim Moore said: “The structure dominates and restricts opportunity to fulfil the development potential of The Forthquarter site.  This enforced retention renders our vision to create an urban village at this section of the Forthquarter development undeliverable for the foreseeable future.

“In our opinion the gasholder frame has no possible alternative use as it is not feasible to incorporate it as a structural frame for any new building due to its size and the associated issues of liability to any purchasers and funders. In effect we are left with a structure that will require significant financial commitment with no potential for return on this investment or contribution to the future economy of North Edinburgh. National Grid will now review available options and consider the merits of those options before deciding how to move forward with this”