Edinburgh International Conference Centre expansion bid hanging in balance

Published on Thursday 29 October 2009 09:31

A BID to expand the city's main conference facility is hanging in the balance after councillors refused to back the controversial £85 million scheme.

Plans to extend to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) were criticised before members of the planning committee decided to delay a decision.

Some compared the proposal to "a 1960s polytechnic" while others said the architecture should be of a far higher quality given the importance of the site.

It had been expected the submission would be approved after council officials gave it their backing in a recent report.

Instead, some councillors yesterday moved to throw out the plans.

It was eventually decided to delay a decision to visit the site and investigate what could be done to improve the appearance.

It is understood that unless the plans for the office part of the development change significantly, it will not win approval.

SNP councillor Colin Keir said: "My heart absolutely sinks when I see plans like this. It is the best example of a lack of imagination I have seen in a long time. These images remind me of a 1960s polytechnic and it could be so much more."

Conservative city centre Councillor Joanna Mowat added: "I'm completely dissatisfied by this full stop. It is going to be the most prominent building on the site but this really disappoints me."

The highest-profile critic of the expansion is Sir Terry Farrell, the original masterplan architect of the EICC, who said it showed "insensitive disregard" for the adjacent building.

Heritage groups in the Capital have also slammed the proposed structure, while concerns were raised about the huge shadow cast on Festival Square by such a big building

The removal of trees from Morrison Street to accommodate the scheme was also called into question.

An EICC spokesman said: "We are confident that we have an excellent design for our additional function space and associated office development and look forward to resolving any remaining design issues from elected members prior to taking the proposals back to the next available planning committee meeting."

Links

www.edinburgh.gov.uk

www.eicc.co.uk