Credit crunch halts building of controversial housing scheme

Published on Tuesday 16 September 2008 10:15

CAMPAIGNERS who fought against a controversial housing development have been left furious after it was apparently halted by the credit crunch.

Work on 150 new homes at the former Kinleith Mill site near Currie has stalled and locals say there has been no activity on the site for months.

The development is being carried out by Treetops Development Company and the Treetops Construction Management Company, based at the same city centre address, recently went into liquidation.

There are now fears that the site will be left abandoned and undeveloped for the foreseeable future. Local residents are also fighting for a right of way through the area and alongside the Water of Leith to be reopened.

Graham Dane, chairman of Currie Community Council, said: "Planning permission was given for building a large number of houses.

"They've cut down a lot of beautiful trees, but what they've done isn't much more than gardening. All they've done is surface work.

"There has been no activity on that site for months now. It is just a blot. We are afraid it may lie like that for some months."

The plan was for 51 houses and 107 flats to be built on the four-hectare site, and alongside the dozens of villas, cottages and flats, a derelict former pump house was also to be converted into offices.

But after some initial clearing work, residents say there has been nothing done on the site.

Mr Dane said the company had not replied to any of his letters asking what will happen to the site.

In April this year, a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) was introduced and the right of way around the western end of the former Kinleith Mill site was closed off.

A 2000-signature petition calling for the cancellation of the TTRO will be presented to council leader Jenny Dawe on Thursday.

Mr Dane said: "We got the 1000 signatures we set out for within a week. Now we've doubled that."

He said the campaign has the backing of the area's three local councillors and MP Alastair Darling has written to the council to add his support.

Councillor Alastair Paisley has criticised the development of the Kinleith site, which he says has been "dragging on" since 1993.

He said: "What we want to do is force the council to cancel the TTRO and reopen the path.

"With the credit crunch, it doesn't look likely the site will be developed any time soon. How many years might we have to wait?

"There is local outrage at the closure of the right of way and we want action to reopen it."

No one from Treetops Development Company or Treetops Construction Management Company was available to comment.