The application for 14 luxury townhouses and apartments in a garden at 9 Kinellan Road has attracted 61 objections and only one note of support.
Murrayfield Community Council had coordinated a campaign against the plans and lodged its own lengthy written objection citing 13 reasons for refusal:
- 1. A sensitive biodiverse habitat including a small loch and wetland will be permanently destroyed.
- 2. The proposed development is incompatible with City Plan 2030 and Edinburgh’s aspirations towards net zero carbon.
- 3. Car use is favoured over public transport, walking and wheeling.
- 4. Trees protected under TPO (tree preservation order) will be sacrificed and the Conservation Area harmed by tree removal.
- 5. Trees immediately outwith the site are not protected from construction damage.
- 6. The Conservation Area will be harmed by inappropriate building density and by design the applicant admits would be “jarring” if more visible from outside.
- 7. The proposed blocks will dominate adjacent Listed Buildings.
- 8. The proposed development is detrimental to amenity of neighbouring properties.
- 9. A rare piece of Edinburgh’s scientific heritage will be permanently lost.
- 10. No commitment is made to affordable housing.
- 11. Drainage and flood risk issues are not resolved.
- 12. Potential present and future ground contamination is not addressed.
- 13. Any benefit of the development is not commensurate with the damage inflicted.
The garden has a small but deep loch in the middle and the proposals would include filling that in, displacing the water and in the view of the community council upsetting the biodiversity.
Read our earlier article about the 21/05580/FUL application here. The closing date for comments on the application was 26 November and the plans will now be considered by planning officers.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
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