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"Luxury four-star hotel complex for Victoria Street"

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The drawings show the neighbouring C-listed tenement block at 11-15 Victoria Street and the B-listed Cowgatehead Church included in the overall design, as well as adjoining land in the Cowgate. Today developers insisted the project would “gentrify” and “regenerate” an area of the city that has been allowed to fall into disrepair, as well as returning the A-listed India Buildings back to their former glory. And they argued the hotel complex would bring an additional £5.3m in visitor spending to the city every year – as well as creating 649 full-time jobs when the hotel is up and running.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/luxury-four-star-hotel-complex-for-victoria-street-1-3813592

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Bill Cowan, chair of Old Town Community Council, said: “We are pleased it has been withdrawn.

    “We don’t know the full story – whether the planners have told them that they didn’t stand a chance because of all the objections or whether the developers behind the nearby India Buildings project are not keen on having a Wetherspoon there, and have somehow persuaded the landlord to go for something else. The premises deserve something better. We would like to see the area improved and having a large pub there seemed a rather retrograde step.”

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/victoria-street-superpub-plans-scrapped-1-3903782

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Developer Jansons Property argued the scheme would “gentrify” the block and attract footfall and investment into nearby shops and businesses.

    But critics have condemned the development as a “hideously bad idea [with] no redeeming qualities whatsoever”.

    A planning application for the 235-bed hotel was lodged today, with work set to begin as early as next summer if the scheme gets the go-ahead – and the entire complex is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/new-images-of-65m-india-buildings-hotel-development-1-3904954

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust director Neil Simpson said: “It’s too big a building and will steal daylight and views currently enjoyed by library users.”

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/old-town/india-buildings-old-town-hotel-to-go-ahead-despite-objections-1-4136227

    Posted 7 years ago #

  5. SRD
    Moderator

    Living streets Edinburgh objected, but mainly on the basis of the impact on pedestrians at the Cowgate side.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  6. LaidBack
    Member

    If ever a street needed 'de-traffiked' its Victoria St.
    Currently its main role is a car park with low air quality as cars go onto George IV Bridge one at a time.
    CEC laissez-faire attitude to letting cars and people mingle can best be seen on Lawnmarket. People come from all over the world to see that de-facto bit of semi-pedestrianistion ;-)
    No signs or road marking required.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  7. jonty
    Member

    I once drove through there (westbound) and wondered if I'd passed a no entry sign by mistake - it does look quite pedestrianised. Simple way to do it would be to just make Johnson Terrace bus only both ways - it's only useful as an E->W rat run just now.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  8. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Off-topic - is Johnston Terrace finally open again eastbound?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  9. AKen
    Member

    It wasn't last Thursday.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  10. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Last Thursday was the Tour Series though. Wondered if that being past had changed anything.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  11. panyagua
    Member

    No it isn't. Looking across there I can see parked coaches in the newly narrowed section facing west, which only leaves enough room for westbound traffic. I have no idea when coach parking is going to be removed from that section to allow two-way traffic - after the summer tourist season perhaps?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  12. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Thanks for confirming panyagua. Re buses, probably just need yellow lines painted.

    I see a date of 27/05/16 listed in this document, though that's already been pushed out from the start of May. Shame this reopening is taking so long as the works were substantially complete a month ago.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  13. Fountainbridge
    Member

    Sad to hear this development has been given the go ahead. No Section 75 payment / developer contributions or any changes to the pavements etc other than narrowing a section in cowgate. £154k to tram though

    Some lines I've picked out from the councils own report

    The site is located within the city centre with well established pedestrian and cycle networks.

    Large vehicles will be able to load / unload at specific locations as per approved waiting and loading restrictions along Cowgate. The development includes minor widening along this stretch of Cowgate which ensure loading/unloading will not significantly impact on the general use of this road.

    The proposed development will positively contribute to improving the pedestrian environment and will not introduce any unacceptable road safety or transport implications.

    Edit to add Living Streets Edinburgh objection here - http://www.livingstreetsedinburgh.org.uk/2015/11/03/living-streets-edinburgh-objection-to-planning-reference-1504445ful-cowgate-victoria-street/

    Posted 7 years ago #

  14. Fountainbridge
    Member

    Off-topic - is Johnston Terrace finally open again eastbound?

    As of Saturday no. Got a shock walking up the road (eastbound) when a taxi heading towards me on "wrong" side of the road.

    Pavement has been narrowed from 3m to just 1.5m

    Some photos from Saturday including Johnston Terrace - https://flic.kr/s/aHskx2pTER

    If ever a street needed 'de-traffiked' its Victoria St.

    I agree - although it's one of the only exit routes out of the Cowgate. Yes the Cowgate could be closed off, but it provides one of the only east/west routes for a mile north and south. (George St, Royal Mile, Chambers St, Marshal St all closed to general traffic)

    The new India Buildings hotel would have been the perfect time to develop the street, but no such plans. Could have had 2 way segregated cycle route, much wider pavements, and still allowed access.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  15. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I'm sure closing Victoria Street would come up against complaints of losing parking spaces. But I'd like to see it closed, and for Cowgate access could make Candlemaker Row a two way street for all traffic? Might need a light control at the top, perhaps also with Chambers Street, and would have to be linked to the existing lights...

    Posted 7 years ago #

  16. acsimpson
    Member

    1.5m looks really narrow on Johnson Terrace. Not really wide enough for two people to walk side by side if someone is coming the other way. A real shame.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    "

    A spokeswoman for the city council said: “The notice has been served for health and safety reasons and the campers are restricting use of the car park.”

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/protesters-camp-out-in-bid-to-hobble-65m-old-town-hotel-1-4146038

    Posted 7 years ago #

  18. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Safeguard the public land in the Old Town World Heritage conservation area at the Cowgatehead next to the Central Library which is currently threatened by a proposed 9 storey, 225 bed speculative hotel development extending to the India Buildings on Victoria Street.

    "

    https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/let-there-be-light-in-edinburgh-s-old-town

    Posted 7 years ago #

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