A group of four members on the Cramond Campus stakeholder group has resigned en masse on Monday.
Housebuilders AMA purchased the former Moray House Cramond Campus site in Barnton years ago promising to deliver a sports led mixed use development on the remainder of it which has lain empty since they bought it.
The company put forward a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to the council in 2024 and a public consultation was held for plans on the former campus and on land at Cramond Road North. The development was to include a synthetic pitch, an active loop, a sports hub, a gym, padel tennis, “later living accommodation”, a care home and other commercial properties.
Community councils have been involved as well as some city councillors, but no progress has been made despite much discussion.
The group’s statement reads:
“For the last three years, we have represented the community of Cramond on a stakeholder group, working alongside AMA as the developer responsible for delivering the long-promised sports facilities at the Cramond Campus.
“Our aim was simple – to try and move on from the problems and bad decisions which have plagued this site for over 20 years and get the sports pitches, leisure facilities and other services we feel our local community needs and deserves. This group oversaw a ‘roadmap’ for the site, effectively the timetable for delivery, which was agreed as part of the last planning agreement in 2022.
“There was early positive progress as part of this, including a community wide survey on local sporting needs and a pre-planning consultation on a set of initial plans for the site. However, we have grown increasingly frustrated by the absence of progress over the last 18 months. It is also unclear as to how and when matters will move forward.
“The route map agreed to in 2022 included a full detailed planning application being submitted in the summer of 2024. Construction was required to start by November 2024. None of this has happened. Regrettably, we have lost confidence in AMA and their work on this process. This is why we have written to AMA to resign from the stakeholder group.
“We have not taken this decision lightly. We have worked hard to make this process succeed but feel things cannot continue as they are with constant delays and ongoing uncertainty. We have therefore also asked for the matter to return to Edinburgh Council’s planning committee so the legal and planning options can be explored fully.“
The signatories are:
- Cllr Kevin Lang, Councillor for Almond Ward on Edinburgh Council
- John Loudon – Cramond, Cammo & Barnton Community Council
- Adam Cumming – Cramond Association
- Michael Ramsay – Brighouse Residents’ Association
The same company, AMA, has entered into conditional missives to buy the Summerhall site – apparently on the grounds that it would retain the arts part of the development which Robert McDowell has nurtured into life over the years.
PMR Leisure, Sports and Leisure Consultants which was appointed by AMA to liaise between the company and the local community groups on the Cramond Campus development has been approached for comment as well as the council’s Convener of the Development Management Sub Committee, Cllr Hal Osler who said: “Our planning team will be reporting back to Committee on this matter in due course. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”
