MSPs urge Holyrood to call in plans for Caltongate

Published on Wednesday 27 February 2008 09:41

THREE Lothians MSPs are urging ministers to take a closer look at the controversial Caltongate proposals.

They say the 300 million plans to redevelop a large area of Edinburgh's Old Town should be called in for further consideration.

Green MSP Robin Harper wants ministers to order a public inquiry into the scheme, while SNP backbencher Shirley-Anne Somerville and independent Margo MacDonald say the plans must be given more scrutiny, whether that means an inquiry or not.

Councillors approved ten out of the 12 applications which make up the project at a stormy eight-hour meeting earlier this month.

Because the council has a financial interest in the scheme – it owns the archways in Market Street – it has to be notified to ministers.

A Scottish Government spokesman said they would decide in due course whether to hand it back to the council or call it in to determine themselves.

A spokesman for developers Mountgrange said the consultation process on Caltongate had been going on for four years and claimed a majority of residents who had expressed a view were in favour of the project.