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"Luxury hotel planned for Old Royal High School" (or music school?)

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  1. crowriver
    Member

    Well I don't support the construction of the bronze cow pat, but then the survey did not ask my opinion on the matter...

    Posted 8 years ago #
  2. crowriver
    Member

    "They are claiming to have won majority support for the £75 million scheme earmarked for the former Royal High School on Calton Hill, based on a survey of 400 residents. More than half of people polled across the city said they were “completely in favour” of specific designs that critics warn could see Edinburgh stripped of its World Heritage Site status after 20 years."

    And yet...

    "The findings have been released just days after it emerged more than 2000 objections have been lodged with the city council over the scheme."

    So slightly more than 200 people support it, and 2000 people and organisations have objected. Hmmm.....yeah that's a winning majority: not.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  3. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The committee’s meeting to approve the Craighouse application last year stretched to nearly eight hours.

    One insider said: “If you thought Craighouse was controversial, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/decision-date-set-for-royal-high-school-development-1-3934760

    Posted 8 years ago #
  4. chdot
    Admin

  5. chdot
    Admin

  6. chdot
    Admin

    Irrespective of the merits of the plan/design and the stats in this poll, why do I have the feeling this won't be a great financial deal for the city?

    "

    The proposals submitted for approval in December will ensure the building remains in public ownership, with the new hotel operating on a long-term lease

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/education/edinburgh-public-back-old-royal-high-hotel-plan-1-3960175

    Posted 8 years ago #
  7. chdot
    Admin

  8. chdot
    Admin

    "

    FRESH images have been unveiled showcasing the transformation of the old Royal High School on Calton Hill into a five-star luxury hotel.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/royal-high-hotel-vision-a-bird-s-eye-view-1-3964266

    Why not just build a hotel on the top of Calton Hill, plenty room, at least one unfinished building...

    Posted 8 years ago #
  9. chdot
    Admin

    "

    What I do object to are the ridiculous “wings” to be built, overpowering the beauty of the building and destroying the very thing that the developers must prize – a classical building which sits appropriately in the setting.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/gina-davidson-brave-choice-can-seal-great-future-1-3971885

    Posted 8 years ago #
  10. chdot
    Admin

    "

    CONTROVERSIAL proposals to transform the old Royal High School into a luxury hotel have been dealt a serious blow after planning officials urged councillors to reject the scheme.

    "

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/royal-high-school-hotel-plans-to-be-rejected-1-3972511

    Posted 8 years ago #
  11. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Architect Sir Terry Farrell, designer of the EICC and MI6 buildings, Gordon Drummond, director of the Capital’s Harvey Nichols store, and Wedgwood restaurant co-owner Lisa Wedgwood are among other high-profile signatories.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/royal-high-plan-developers-reveal-100-champion-backers-1-3975875

    Posted 8 years ago #
  12. Morningsider
    Member

    100 champions - but not one wonder horse, most disappointing. More than a few self-interested parties on the list though and no-one with an obvious interest Edinburgh's long term development.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  13. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I find this very high profile and very public PR exercise by the Hotel proponents distasteful and somewhat troubling.

    Planning should be made purely on the merits of the case in line with planning and conservation legislation and requirements, and not influenced by a well-finance popularity contest championed by a local purveyor of emergency toilet paper supplies.

    The "look at all these rich and influential "business" people that think this is a fabulous idea and in no way whatsoever have a vested interest in this" approach particularly gies me the boke.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  14. Dunedin
    Member

    Just a thought, but maybe some on that list consider the creation of 840 jobs and generating £31.5m GDP for the city every year a good thing without necessarily having 'vested interests'?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  15. Morningsider
    Member

    Dunedin - if that was the case then they could have signed as individuals, rather than on behalf of their company. Alternatively, they could have submitted letters of support to the Council when the planning application was open for comment.

    840 generally poorly paid, part time jobs isn't much of sell - I seriously doubt those numbers would materialise. I also can't see how a hotel would generate £31.5m for the city economy, given it will be owned by a foreign company.

    Anyway, what price our historic built environment? Destroying part of what people come to Edinburgh to experience seems an odd way of boosting visitor income.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  16. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Which of course is why I explicitly said "in no way whatsoever have a vested interest in this" ;)

    It's very difficult to read the published list on the Chipwrapper website, however if you zoom in and squint a lot, you can make out some of the details and it doesn't take a leap of faith to imagine why these organisations would be signing up to help push through an uber-luxury hotel. I'll stick my neck out and say a lot of these organisations aren't doing this for purely altruistic reasons and like any good private businesses care much more about their bottom line than they do about heritage matters and local interests in Edinburgh.

    It would be interesting and very telling to see how many of the signatories are potential suppliers / contractors / partners with the development.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  17. The Boy
    Member

    Is that figure before or after they siphon their profits off-shore?

    /cynic

    Posted 8 years ago #
  18. PS
    Member

    It seems pretty reasonable for people who think that a "super hotel" will have a positive impact on their business to state that they are in favour of it being built.

    Of course, sections of the city's music community have a vested interest in promoting the music school option. :-)

    Posted 8 years ago #
  19. Dunedin
    Member

    Morningsider - "840 generally poorly paid, part time jobs isn't much of sell..." I reckon we'll just have to agree to disagree.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  20. Morningsider
    Member

    Dunedin - Unemployment rates in Edinburgh are incredibly low, 1.1% of working age residents claimed JSA in November. There is little call for more low-paid, part time jobs in the city.

    Just to be clear, I'm not against job creation. However, it is a very poor argument for granting this proposed development permission. Jobs would also be created in a development sympathetic to the site - it simply isn't a case of grant permission or lose any job creating opportunity.

    It's time the city took a stand against third-rate developments - Craighouse, St James and the rest all use the same tactics - claims of magical job creation and X millions of pounds for the city economy, fears for the future of listed buildings. Time to call these sharks out - they can still make handsome profits from these developments without trashing our environment. If they don't fancy it then let someone else have a shot.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  21. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The £75 million plan to convert the Calton Hill site into a luxury hotel will go before councillors tomorrow after splitting opinion in what has become a key test of approaches to Edinburgh’s development as a dynamic European capital.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/royal-high-d-day-looms-for-luxury-hotel-plan-1-3977021

    Posted 8 years ago #
  22. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Highlighting economy leader Councillor Frank Ross’ support for the proposal, the source added: “Cllr Ross will have a lot of sway with other members and I certainly know he is in favour.

    “It’s a proposal that will allow the council to bring in revenue for the city. [Cllr Ross] is a pragmatic man.”

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/royal-high-vote-will-come-down-to-the-wire-1-3978074

    Posted 8 years ago #
  23. crowriver
    Member

    Edinburgh Reporter ‏@EdinReporter 2h2 hours ago
    We are reporting live from the City Chambers this morning.....

    https://t.co/l1goqsdUhR

    Posted 8 years ago #
  24. The Boy
    Member

    Turned down.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  25. Stickman
    Member

    How quickly will the appeal go in?

    Posted 8 years ago #
  26. The Boy
    Member

    I expect they had the papers drawn up already.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  27. Klaxon
    Member

    Honestly, would anywhere near as much fuss be being made if the new wings receded away from the street in a Ziggurat fashion rather than looming over like they do now.

    I feel like that would fix most of the 'out of character' stuff going on.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  28. chdot
    Admin

    "I feel like that would fix most of the 'out of character' stuff going on."

    Well yes.

    The developers chose to submit the plan.

    Either they believed CEC/PlanDept/councillors would be a complete walkover, or it was all a ploy to preface a 'more acceptable version'.

    It's not like they paid so much for the site and need to get their money back!

    Posted 8 years ago #
  29. PS
    Member

    Honestly, would anywhere near as much fuss be being made if the new wings receded away from the street in a Ziggurat fashion rather than looming over like they do now.

    The original plan that they showed at the consultation held at the OHS had two long flat wings, like a modernist pastiche of a stoa. They changed to the ziggurats leaning away from the main OHS building so as to give it some space as the feedback they received said that design crowded out the OHS.

    Posted 8 years ago #
  30. chdot
    Admin

    "

    They insisted their contract with the council – drawn up after they won an open competition to develop the site five years ago – lasts until 2022, giving them seven years to lodge any new planning applications.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/royal-high-legal-battle-looms-1-3978974

    Is that a threat or a promise?

    Posted 8 years ago #

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