Planning matters
Given the controversy over some of the historic Christmas events in Edinburgh, you might have expected some discussion of the planning applications to stage rides and spiegeltents on George Street and in St Andrew Square.
But there was none. You can watch the coverage of the Development Management Sub-Committee meeting here but don’t blink. The applications for both were simply approved on the nod.
The committee spent almost all of the 1 hour and 20 minutes to discussion of a Protocol Note about the development of land next to and around Madelvic House in Granton where an exciting project is planned – and which excitingly includes plans for new allotments.
The area of land around will be opened up to the community in this way: “The development of a sector-leading national centre for the care, conservation, research, storage, and distribution of Scotland’s collection of artworks. Proposed visitor and community-led spaces will maximise public access and facilitate a programme of education and outreach programmes which make full use of benefits including active public realm spaces (incl. pop-up cafe use) and bio-diverse landscaping, new /improved access, parking, and all other associated works.“
In the council report it is clear that the planning officers have welcomed the long-awaited project. The report states: “The proposal will make a positive contribution to the City’s Waterfront Area. The proposal is a well-designed and sustainable development. It allows for 20 minute neighbourhood principles and community benefits to be delivered. The impact of development on the setting of nearby listed buildings and the wider townscape has been considered and is acceptable in this regard. The proposal will improve the quality of public realm and increase permeability through the site and the wider area. The proposal is not considered to have a significantly adverse impact on surrounding residents and will provide indoor and outdoor amenity space for use by local residents. Landscape proposals include sustainable drainage and new planting that will provide an improved level of habitat creation on the site and create a positive setting for the building.”
And as for Christmas what has changed? Well for a start the company overseeing Christmas has actually applied for planning permission and discussed arrangements with planning officers. The previous organiser failed to do so until they made a retrospective application after a huge amount of damage had been caused to Princes Street Gardens with their extended footprint for the Christmas market.
The festivities at Christmas (and New Year) are now overseen by a completely different producer. UniqueAssembly are adamant that there is to be much more of a local emphasis on the market stalls which will be situated in Princes Street Gardens and also this year on Castle Street. Plans for these were submitted with the planning application. The stalls will be all cottages with gabled roofs facing forwards and pointed gables at the sides. The wood panelling with be “glazed dark brown” the roof panels will be red and there will be lattice windows.
The planning report said that changes were evident: “Dividing the event into four separate locations in the city has diminished the concentrated scale of the proposals. The impact on a single environment has been reduced from previous years and consequently the impact on the heritage assets is not as profound.”
And the Star Flyer will be back – this time on George Street beside an ice rink with a clear roof so that you can admire the architecture above as you slide gracefully on the ice.
In spite of the detail in the application (which was recommended for approval by planning officers) The Cockburn Association lodged objections saying: “There is simply not enough information provided in the application to take an informed and meaningful view on a large number of highly relevant considerations.
“These include, but are not limited to, access arrangements, equal access provision, crowd management, actual or potential impacts on heritage and natural assets, consideration of use of soft landscaped area, missed opportunities to use nearby or existing hard standing, event creep, increased footprint, impact on permanent retailers, impact of thoroughfares, noise, sustainable transport, waste management, carbon footprint and carbon mitigation and the cumulative impact of the Christmas 2023 applications: 23/04144/FUL 23/04199/FUL 23/04142/FUL 23/04143/FUL.
“This application is particularly disappointing given the controversies which have surrounded planning applications and the planning process for Christmas installations in the centre of Scotland’s capital year on year. The lack of any apparent move
to disseminate Christmas attractions to other residential centres across the city will disappoint the reasonable expectations of many citizens.”
Edinburgh World Heritage did not support the application either but gave no substantive reasons.
The sites on two parts of George Street at the western end as well as the northern section of Castle Street will be affected by arrangements for Edinburgh’s Christmas on these dates (and yes cyclists can access a modified cycle lane on the north side of the street throughout Edinburgh’s Christmas events.
- − Set up: 30 October – 17 November 2023;
- − Operational: 18 November 2023 – 6 January 2024;
- − Take down: 7 January – 19 January 2024.
Bikes for Refugees – can you help?
The charity Bikes for Refugees is trying hard to recover after a break in at their premises when bikes and tools were stolen. If you can help by donating a bike or cash then they would be glad to hear from you.
A little bit of Schubert
To celebrate the adoption of 100 pianos Pianodrome are having a musical afternoon on Saturday when there will be some piano sharing and a performance of Schubert’s Trout Quintet by Tim Vincent-Smith and his guests.
At the Wee Hub (the old Debenhams store at Ocean Terminal) from 4pm to 7.30pm.
Edinburgh’s Christmas – Winter Windows
The annual Winter Windows schools competition which will be even bigger this year as the number of winners has been doubled to 24 is back.
Schoolchildren in Edinburgh are encouraged to submit an artwork that represents their idea of winter and the festive season to be selected for display along walkways across the city. The winners’ artworks will also be showcased on Edinburgh’s Christmas social channels. Contact your school for more information on how to take part or take a look at the Edinburgh’s Christmas website for more information.
And while you are there – and if you are looking for a seasonal job – there are many jobs on the website.
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