University in contentious homes profit

Published on 15/05/2012 02:28

Bosses at Edinburgh Napier University have said it is set to cash in to the tune of £1.5 million if a controversial housing development in a historic campus gets the green light.

The university is facing mounting criticism over its deal with developers, which has already seen the institution paid £10m for a site in the Morningside area that could have more than 100 homes built on it.

Principal Dame Joan Stringer has faced demands from campaigners to know the extent of the university’s financial interests in an overhaul of its Craighouse campus, which was sold off last year.

However, she hit back by accusing them of trying to discredit the university’s reputation with “disinformation” and has accused ringleaders of “attempting to distort the facts”.

Some 116 new homes will be built in the grounds, while just 66 are being created inside existing listed buildings on the site as part of a joint project between the university and two private developers.

However, the Friends of Craighouse group last week published an eight-page open letter to Ms Stringer, demanding clarity on “misleading and inaccurate information” being given to the public about the development.