Princes Street condemned as 'big bus station' by architects

Published on Wednesday 29 December 2010 14:59

PRINCES Street was today condemned as just "a big bus station" by a world-renowned firm of architects hired by the council to help inject life into the city centre.

Council chiefs and business leaders have said more must be done with the city centre as a report from Gehl Architects concluded Princes Street is "under-performing" and drastic action must be taken to transform and revitalise it.

The firm, which is credited with turning Copenhagen into one of the world's most pedestrian-friendly cities, has come up with a series of proposals to help the council curb traffic congestion and boost trade for businesses.

Writing in the Evening News today, one of the firm's directors David Sim, who studied architecture at Edinburgh College of Art, said there should be a "cultural change in how Princes Street is used, with pubs, cafes and restaurants opened up to give it life at night-time, temporary closures for special events and more cyclists instead of buses.

&#149 Is Princes Street just "a big bus station", as a firm of leading architects suggests? vote here

As well as hitting out at the vast numbers of buses on Princes Street - equating to 400 bus movements an hour - the firm also says that the street is "dead after the shops shut" and George Street is "a big car park".

Deputy council leader Steve Cardownie said it was "a bit unfair" to label Princes Street as a bus station, but added there were aspects of the findings he agreed with.

He said: "They have to take into consideration that people have to get into their work and people need to get around."

He added: "Princes Street is dead at night. We want to have an outdoor cafe style set up because it's a shame not to capitalise on the views across to the Castle."

Graham Birse, chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said the decline of Princes Street was evident in the fact Edinburgh has fallen from the second best place for shopping to ninth in the past ten years. He said: "I don't think anybody's in any doubt that it is under-performing."

The move towards a more cycle-friendly street was praised by Ian Maxwell, of cycling organisation Spokes. He said: "The less motor traffic on it, the better."

Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "The research will form a valuable part of our ongoing review."