Old Town homes 'emptied before Caltongate go-ahead'

Published on Tuesday 2 October 2007 12:15

PROPERTIES in the Old Town are being emptied before plans for the controversial Caltongate development have been given the go-ahead, according to SNP claims today.

City centre councillor David Beckett said that seven of the nine council houses in the Canongate tenement proposed for demolition have already been emptied.

And the historic Canongate Venture building now has half of its units lying empty, with attempts to re-let them being rebuffed by council officials.

Developer Mountgrange wants to build 200 new homes, a five-star hotel and conference centre, office blocks, cafes, bars, restaurants, and a new public square on the site of the old New Street bus depot.

But there is huge opposition over proposals to knock down a tenement block on the Royal Mile to create a new through route to the proposed public square.

The developer has also insisted it needs to bulldoze two listed buildings, the former Sailor's Ark hostel and the Canongate Venture building, to make way for a five-star hotel and conference centre. Councillor Beckett said: "I was appalled when I heard that these flats and business units were being vacated, and have immediately called for them to be re-let. Edinburgh council can't afford to have valuable small business units and affordable homes lying empty.

"The eight empty units represent not only lost revenue to the council but a lost resource for community businesses at a time when we need to grow our economy.

"We only have 240 council flats in the whole of the city centre area, so it's outrageous to have seven centrally located affordable homes going to waste."

A blueprint for the 300 million plans was approved by the council last October, despite objections to key elements.

These have come from a number of heritage bodies including Edinburgh World Heritage, the Cockburn Association and the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland.

The weight of objections has led many to say a public inquiry is inevitable. This is likely to delay work starting for around a year.

Lothians SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "Given the many objections to the Caltongate masterplan, it's scandalous to hear that affordable homes and businesses are being emptied to make life easier for the developers should their plans be approved

." A spokesman for Mountrange said: "The Caltongate project will result in 200 new homes being built, including 25 per cent affordable housing. The housing policies of Edinburgh City Council are entirely a matter for the council and we have had no discussion with them on this matter."

A council spokeswoman said: "Mountgrange's proposals for the Caltongate site have been subject to extensive publicity and in fairness to existing tenants long-term leases are not being renewed but they are being given the opportunity to renew leases on a rolling short-term basis.

"This has no bearing on the planning committees consideration of the matter. In view of the fact that this matter is still subject to planning, no other comment will be offered at this time."

A "Stop the Demolition" public meeting against the Caltongate plans is taking place at Old St Paul's Church Hall, 39 Jeffrey Street from 7pm tomorrow .