Artists and locals have reacted with anger to proposals to redevelop and demolish parts of the Summerhall arts complex in Edinburgh, with fears that the city could lose vital arts spaces.
Developers say the arts centre and Fringe venue is not commercially viable and must find alternative means of funding itself to sustain arts provision going forward.
They laid out four proposals, which would all see the site converted into a mixed-use development with varying degrees of hotel, student accommodation, co-living, and commercial provision.
Developers hope to rework the site so that residences, arts spaces, the on-site pub and commerce can work in tandem as an “arts quarter”.
Many locals fear the character of the complex could be lost.
Screenwriter Will Truefitt, 34, was unimpressed, saying: “People who draw these sorts of plans often like to tell you that change is progress.
“Really, all they’re talking about is maximising their profit margin, and actually they forget the reason why this is a desirable object of acquisition in the first place.
“Maybe it’s a bit scruffy. It’s not what they want it to look like, but actually, it’s well used community environment.
“It’s one of the most vibrant parts of one of the most vibrant aspects of the whole city and one of the biggest commercial draws internationally.”
He added: “The idea that I can spend a lot of my workday here, and then at the end of the day, I can just like wander into the pub, and it’s connected to the meadows, and it’s connected to local businesses, to me, that is what a design for life should be.
“There are vanishingly few places like that left in the UK.”
Under the new plans, developers AMA (New Town) Ltd say the existing arts centre would grow into “a creative city in microcosm” built on a “live, work, play” ethos.
Living space and visitors, creative industries and studios, and exhibitions, performances and festivals could all converge on the site.
Although the possibility of regular residences was left open, architects said this could clash with the idea of a vibrant creative hub with the Royal Dick pub as the social nexus. Instead they recommended student accommodation or a hotel.
Scottish Greens MSP for Edinburgh Central Lorna Slater described this aspect of the plans as “disingenuous”.
“They’re being presented as if you can’t have a pub and living accommodation, as if no one in Edinburgh has ever lived over a pub before,” she explained.
“I think the proposals have too much purpose-built student housing, too much hotel space.
“I think what we need in Edinburgh Central is more homes, but we do want to keep the lovely pub at Summerhall. There has to be a solution that does both of those things.”
She also highlighted “big concerns” about the artists and businesses in the space being turned out.
“If it’s going to take three years to build and they’re going to kick everyone out, those organisations, where are they supposed to go?
“They get cheap rent here which supports their work. If they have to go elsewhere, they’ll either fold or they’ll set up somewhere else.
“And then what happens to the developer in three years? Who are they going to rent the space back to? Will those businesses be able to come back, or will they even exist?”
Ali Afshar, managing director at AMA, said the site has not made money for the past 14 years and that the building has deteriorated as a result.
The redevelopment, he said, could rejuvenate the space commercially and see floor space for artists increase
He said: “The lease comes to the end in April 2028, so, no matter what happens, leases are ending. The development period, if we get planning, will require people to move out.”
He added that, because of Summerhall’s central location, the complex is “probably the best location for a student accommodation”.
“This could be a slightly different student accommodation to the rest because of its relation to the arts and the university, even to the extent that there could be opportunities for co-living.”
Co-living is a modern residential arrangement where individuals rent private bedrooms in a shared property while using common areas like kitchens, lounges, and workspaces – like student accommodation for young professionals.
Chief architect Tony Kettle described some of the structural issues with the building: “Outside this room the ceiling has collapsed; there’s water ingress coming from above and from below.
“There are issues with the windows; there are issues where the plaster in the ceiling is falling down into the fridge vent.
“As you move through, there are other parts of the building which are overstressed structurally.
“Within here, the Fringe uses part of the main building for large events and temporary scaffolding is installed. In future we need to make sure that the building is actually designed for that purpose.”
On whether Edinburgh could face a lack of affordable arts spaces if Summerhall were to close for refurbishments, he said:
“I think it’s beyond Summerhall in the sense that there always needs to be somewhere that’s as affordable as possible.
“But I think here it’s really reached a stage where that affordability is at the price of the fabric of the building, so what we have to do is try and find investment here that gets the fabric into a state where maintaining it is low.”
Charlie Booth, 26, who lives in Morningside, described the proposals as “soulless”.
“Summerhall means a lot. I do acting classes here and every ceilidh my friends have organised has been here, we’ve raised money for charity, it was where we would hang out growing up.”
He added: “There are four options in front of us today, but it seems like an illusion of choice.
“They have the pros and cons on that board and the pro is ‘this would be really good for the hotel’ – it seems to be like completely from the perspective of the hotel owners and all the student accommodation owners.”
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