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AMAZE of neglected backstreets in the heart of the Capital is set to be transformed into a haven of boutique shops and restaurants under plans for a £100 million renaissance.
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http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/100m-plan-to-revamp-edinburgh-s-east-end-1-3510575
"The long-awaited scheme has been unlocked following the purchase of a 19th century architectural gem that has lain empty for years – even before it was bought by former Hearts chairman Vladimir Romanov in 2007.
The property at 42 St Andrew Square, and those adjoining it on West Register Street, were bought by development firm the Chris Stewart Group, which specialises in converting historic properties into luxury apartments, bars and restaurants and is credited with reviving Advocates Close in Edinburgh’s Old Town."
Chris Stewart Group must have a good PR.
Since when has the city centre been the East End? Anyway, all sounds fine to me, but will there be any provision for bicycles? Cycle parking? Motor vehicle restrictions?
I AM AMAZE.
"Since when has the city centre been the East End"
I have always referred to either end of Princes St as the east and west end. I've always assumed this to be an Edinburgh 'thing', compared to, say, Glasgow where the east and west ends are much further out.
Yes, and it is what they are referring to here as well.
Sounds okay but I also hope there will be cycling provision. At the moment, that is the only safe way to get from St Andrews Street to Princes Street/North Bridge.
I have always referred to either end of Princes St as the east and west end. I've always assumed this to be an Edinburgh 'thing', compared to, say, Glasgow where the east and west ends are much further out.
I can understand referring to Shandwick Place, Manor Place and so on, out to Haymarket/Morrison Street as the city's West End. Otherwise it's the west end of.....Princes Street, George Street, Rose Street, etc. Likewise the city's East End can refer to Waterloo Place, Regent Road, Leith Street, London Road etc. but otherwise it's the east end of.....Princes Street, George Street, Rose Street, etc. but NOT "the city's East End".
It's like London.
West End doesn't mean Notting Hill etc.
The East End is something else - bit like Leith (perhaps...)
@chdot, aye. The Pet Shops Boys track sums up the difference nicely.
Planning application for a mixed-use development, with public realm etc. Comments by the 17th (Fri.)
15/02788/FUL 'Registers' MasterPlan
https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application
Includes 12 new bike racks and some sensible changes to vehicular access / rat-running on those streets.
Lots of mention of "potential" creation of pedestrian through-ways, would hope these come to fruition as would really open up that corner of town.
Wonder where they got the plan from -
Seems to suggest that there is a connection between RBS and Elder St. (There's a wall.) THAT would be a great improvement!!
(Not part of this plan app.)
@Chdot I think RBS intend to knock down the old annexe to rear of 36 St. Andrew Square and do a bit of rationalisation of the access (potentially opening a through route.
The annexe was built in the early 1960s to house "the" bank computer. Readers will be surprised to know that despite press coverage to the contrary, that particular piece of hardware is no longer in use.
You mean they have a 'new' computer??
It's got solitaire and everything.
Aye, if the new routes through to St James happen, this looks to be quite a promising development.
I don't know this area of town at all well. But it's clear that we need better cycling connections here, and that if we want to get them any time in the next twenty years then they need to be part of this application. Spokes will send in a response (by Friday), what would we like to be in it.
I don't understand what the word 'potential' means in document 39 which shows all the planned through routes. As in 'potential connection to St James street by creating hole in wall', and lots of other potential new routes. Does it mean 'this will happen if the development gets the go ahead', or is it potential depending on whether they can be bothered / get agreement from other parties.
I guess that cycling will be allowed on all of these routes? Perhaps document 39 is not the best one to read, did anyone spot a better document for seeing what the plans will mean for cyclists and pedestrians?
Anyway, is there anything that we'd like to request be included as a condition for planning permission?
The full transport appraisal seems a little more enlightening. It's worth noting that they're planning to widen the junction of West Register Street with Princes Street in order to allow two way traffic to use the the bottom part of West Register Street. This junction will be left turn only. Should we be advocating continuous pedestrian kerb?
Also, they will extend the kerb in the middle of the road to prevent traffic turning right, we should be asking for an exception for cyclists here, this could create a marginally less stressful route from the bridges to St Andrews Square.
Any other things we should be putting in?
UtrechtCyclist - the Transport Assessment proposes a raised table at the entrance of Princes Street (paragraph 4.2.3), which is effectively a continuation of the footway over the road.
I would consider the "potential" routes as window dressing at this point - unless they are required by the planning permission (through conditions or a planning obligation) then there is no need for the developer to pursue these. Also, I'm doubtful the National Records of Scotland and other owners would be keen on creating a new thoroughfare through their property.
this could create a marginally less stressful route from the bridges to St Andrews Square.
While out pothole-spotting last week I was actually attempting to cycle from Waterloo Place to Haymarket and beyond (either Dalry or Coates, it didn't really matter). My journey was Princes St > South St David St > George St > South Charlotte St > Princes St > Shandwick Pl > Atholl Pl > Torphichen Pl and so on.
There are seven sets of traffic lights to negotiate just to reach the George St cycle lane, and another four before you get to Shandwick Place. It wasn't even rush hour; it was lunchtime. That was why it took fifteen minutes to reach the West End, completely legally of course (no footways, no RLJ).
15 minutes to cover exactly one mile? That's not making cycling efficient! And I would challenge any beginner cyclist to make that trip to George Street without giving up in fright.
By comparison, fifteen minutes out of the West End I was passing Sighthill.
@Morningsider, I know that in theory a raised table should be a continuation of the footway over the road, but the majority of the ones I see in Edinburgh are not tight enough, they're not steep enough and they don't give visual priority to the pedestrians. Cars seem able to take the new junction of Montague Street and St Leonards quite comfortably at speeds over fifteen mph.
I'm sending a personal response that will look something like the following, any comments (or anyone else wanting to comment https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=NPVCV3EWJA300) would be great!:
The pedestrianisation of much of 'the registers' area and the improvements to the public realm are welcome, as is the general intention of the designers to create a more pleasant environment for pedestrians. However the design of the West Register St/Princes St junction is extremely poor, and is fundamentally at odds with both the spirit and the letter of Edinburgh's street design guidance.
To place the junction in context, it lies between the St James centre and the majority of the Princes St shops and is among the most heavily used pedestrian streets in Edinburgh. Peak traffic use of the junction at present is 40 vehicles per hour (application transport appraisal), peak pedestrian use is presumably comfortably into the thousands of pedestrians per hour. In such a context the Edinburgh Street Design guidance insists on 'placemaking', emphacising pedestrian priority and that pedestrians should not be forced off desire lines.
This (mandatory) guidance seems to have been entirely ignored in the current design. There is no continuous footway across the junction, the raised table is set back from the junction taking pedestrians off their desire lines, and it is clear that vehicles have priority over pedestrians. These designs will most likely lead to a vast increase in the use of West Register Street by taxis and cars dropping people off, particularly given the large number of taxis which currently queue illegally outside the Balmoral hotel opposite.
I hope the developers will substantially revise their plans for this spot, regarding it not as a junction but as a continuous pavement across which vehicular access is allowed. In particular, there should be a continuous footway across the junction of the same material as the surrounding pavement which gives unambiguous priority to pedestrians and does not require them to deviate from a straight line. The ramps up to the junction for vehicles should be much steeper. Examples of such design in Edinburgh can be seen at the south west corner of George Square or at the junction of Fountainbridge with Fountain Park.
As a final point, it would be good if the 'no right turn' signs at this junction did not apply to cyclists, and that a small gap was made in the extended kerb dividing the two directions of traffic on Princes street in order that cyclists can make this manouvre.
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PLANS to transform a neglected maze of city centre back streets into a district of high-class shops, restaurants and businesses have been held up amid concern over the impact on historic buildings.
Bosses at developer Chris Stewart Group (CSG) have submitted revised blueprints for the West Register Street scheme after proposals to bulldoze a B-listed Victorian tenement led to an objection from Historic Environment Scotland.
It has also emerged that ministers decided to call in CSG’s application for listed building consent (LBC).
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At least the artist's impression is realistic in that it shows a couple of temporary barriers on the right. And they are going to remove the tram (no wires) and restrict taxis and delivery vans, otherwise there would be some parked on the pavements.
But the green pedestrian light is totally unrealistic.
EEN stil referring to a single block with access at both ends as a "maze" I see.
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