£20m revamp of hospice set to be given the go-ahead

Published on Tuesday 15 September 2009 09:45

PLANS for the multi-million pound extension to a city hospice look set to receive the green light from councillors, sparking a massive fundraising campaign.

The 20 million revamp of St Columba's Hospice in the north of the city has been recommended for approval despite some local opposition.

Officials stated that while the application did breach some local plan guidelines, the importance of creating a world-class facility could not be ignored.

Under the proposals, which are backed by local politicians and community groups, more space would be created for the 30 in-patients and a much-anticipated education wing created at the Granton facility. The increased privacy and dignity offered to patients is also in keeping with lobbying from care groups seeking improvements in palliative care.

Edinburgh North and Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm said: "I have inspected the plans for this development and think they would enhance this superb facility. I know that there is widespread support for St Columba's Hospice both in the immediate surrounding area and throughout my constituency."

A large-scale fundraising campaign is now set to be launched to help raise the money for the development. The hospice lost out on several millions of pounds as a result of the financial downturn, but stressed that that situation would not threaten expansion.

Although council planners stated that there were "compelling reasons for approval" despite the departure from the development plan, 17 local residents have voiced their concern.

A resident of nearby Boswall Road said: "I appeal to the councillors considering this application to give this the same rigour as would be applied to private dwelling applications. If I submitted an application which contravened the guidelines I would be highly unlikely to be successful."

And resident Ian Lutton, who describes himself as an "ex-friend of the hospice", added: "This project is far too large for such a cramped site, and completely overwhelms the surrounding classic buildings."

However, those complaints are matched by strong letters of support.

Trinity Community Council secretary Thomas Kerr stated: "While the community council accepts and understands some of the concerns of the local residents, we feel that the hospice and their developers have gone to great lengths to try and keep the overall scale of the buildings as low as possible.

"We fully accept the view that a new building is needed, the patients deserve privacy and the benefits of modern facilities."

Councillors will be told tomorrow that officials consider that the development will create a centre "to match any in the UK".

&#149 www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk