Councillors back Caltongate plans

Published on Wednesday 6 February 2008 20:08

VITAL elements of the controversial £300 million Caltongate scheme today received the go-ahead from city councillors.

At a stormy meeting of the council's planning committee, various plans for a new five-star hotel, conference centre, plus dozens of homes, shops and offices in the Old Town, were supported by a majority of the 14 politicians.

However, contentious proposals to demolish all but the facade of historic Canongate tenements were put on hold, and the developers Mountrgange have been asked to look at ways of retaining the buildings for affordable housing.

The lengthy meeting, which carried on until 7.15pm, was attended by a large number of protesters, who regularly heckled the councillors.

Green councillor Steve Burgess and the SNP's Colin Keir opposed many of the separate plans for the Old Town site, but Lib Dem convener Jim Lowrie spoke out in support of the scheme.

The project will now progress to Scottish Ministers for a final decision.