VIDEO – Council approves planning application for Craighouse

The Development Managemnt committee met today for eight hours in the City Chambers to hear both sides of the argument about the development planned for Craighouse.

The final decision was to grant all three planning applications made by The Craighouse Partnership which accords with the advice from planning officials. The decision was 9-6 in favour.

The developer still has to enter into a Section 75 agreement with the council but it will contain a developer contribution of £336,000 to the education budget.

The Edinburgh Reporter spoke to some of the key people after the meeting ended.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuOGN4JWgtY]

Local Greens have signalled dismay over the decision by planning committee to grant permission for new high-cost housing at Craighouse. While Green planning committee member, Nigel Bagshaw, voted against permission, the committee as a whole voted in favour.

Local Green councillor Gavin Corbett slammed the decision, claiming:

“This is nothing short of a betrayal of the thousands of people who have submitted objections to the massive over-development of Craighouse as one of the most special places in the city.”

Neighbouring Green councillor Melanie Main added:

“In deciding to ride roughshod over a host of planning protections, those members of planning committee who supported the application have not only signalled a dramatic change at Craighouse, they have utterly undermined their future credibility as custodians of the city”

And Green MSP Alison Johnstone, who lives locally, said:

“One of the biggest disappointments in today’s decision is that it has closed the door on exciting plans to re-invent Craighouse as a hub for community enjoyment and local businesses in favour of bland and exclusive private housing. What a failure of the imagination!”