New plans for the redevelopment of West Princes Street Gardens are now online with a consultation questionnaire, and all Edinburgh residents are invited to have their say.
There will be a series of drop in public events from next Saturday when you can meet those behind the project to create a welcome centre, pavilion and amphitheatre, family area and path network. All of this is intended to replace the ageing Ross Pavilion with a contemporary structure for the 21st century, changing the emphasis from a theatre in a garden to a garden theatre.
From today, the consultation and feedback form is online here www.thequaichproject.org/consultation
The results of the consultation will be considered with amending the design which will be presented in February 2020.
You can see the presentation boards below :
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Open in new tab The consultation will explain who is involved and why, summarise the work done to date and the work that is planned, provide detail on the designs of the key elements of the project and how these have been developed from consultation work to date.
Once the redevelopment has been completed it will be City of Edinburgh Council who delivers a Business Plan for the management of the gardens.This information is due to be publicly available in January.
David Ellis, Managing Director at The Quaich Project, said: “It’s incredibly satisfying to be at this point today where we’re launching our month-long public consultation on proposals to create a space for all within a revitalised West Princes Street Gardens.
“These latest designs represent over four years’ worth of feedback and advice from key stakeholders and organisations across the city.
“Before we go any further, we need to make sure that the wider public is properly consulted and we’re keen to hear from them what they think about the designs. We’ll then act on feedback received.
“It is essential that we make the correct improvements and that the people of Edinburgh get the chance to have their say on how that is done.
“We believe that West Princes Street Gardens can become one of the best public spaces in the world. The plans that have been drawn up by the internationally renowned architects working on the project will revitalise the Gardens, creating a space for all which will help safeguard one of the city’s most cherished green spaces.”
A new fundraising campaign was launched earlier this year. With the seed funding of £5 million contributed by local businessman Norman Springford of Apex Hotels who set up the Ross Development Trust, there is still an amount of money to find. The project launched an international campaign in New York only last month.
The City of Edinburgh Council has committed to match Mr Springford’s donation as long as the balance is raised by the Trust.
The project is a partnership between the Ross Development Trust and the council to improve the facilities in the gardens and provide a world class public green space.
The name comes from the topography of the garden and the fact that a quaich is a means of welcome and sharing.
The Butterfly Pavilion was designed by New York based architects wHY with local architect GRAS in response to an international design competition. They summed up their design by explaining that pavilion comes from the French word papillon or butterfly. The butterfly is a symbol of symmetry and organic form. It occasionally alights, it is of the air but connects with the ground, delighting and drawing you in. Part of the plan is to re-establish the butterfly population in the garden with all the associated benefits of that.
Over 125 submissions were made at the concept design stage. Planning permission will be applied for in March next year.
Some public consultation was already conducted last year and changes have been made to the redesign. Some of the main things the project team has addressed is to reduce the slope into the gardens and balancing the amount of grass with seating. In addition there will be covered picnic areas, natural materials will be used for play areas and there will be a changing places toilet. The Quaich Project particularly want suggestions for using the existing shelters which will be improved as part of the planned works. They have suggested that these could perhaps be spaces for community showcase events. But they welcome your ideas.
Central Library, 7-9 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EG
Saturday 9th November 10:30am-4:30pm
Monday 11th November 1:00pm-7:30pm
Tuesday 12th November 10:30am-4:30pm
Wednesday 13th November 1:00pm-7:30pm
Thursday 14th November 10:30am-4:30pm
Friday 15th November 10:30am-4:30pm
Saturday 16th November 10:30am-4:30pm
Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road, Edinburgh EH10 4PU
Tuesday 19th November 1pm-7:30pm
Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH6 4AE
Wednesday 20th November 1pm-7:30pm
Portobello Community Centre, 3 Adelphi Grove, Edinburgh EH15 1AP
Thursday 21st November 1pm-7:30pm
Drumbrae Library Hub, 81 Drumbrae Drive, Edinburgh EH4 7FE
Monday 25th November 10:30am-4:30pm
The Ross Fountain has already been restored with private financing and contributions from public bodies of £2 million and the Gardener’s Cottage has also been completely renovated. At present it serves as office space for the project.
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