End of two-year legal fight opens door to new flats

Published on Monday 1 September 2008 09:57

THE transformation of one of Edinburgh's biggest eyesores is finally set to get under way after a two-year delay.

Seven-storey blocks of flats and a row of shops will be constructed under the 70 million scheme for the site of the former bus depot near Shrub Place.

The plans drawn up by BL Developments, which mark the fourth attempt to redevelop the area, received the go-ahead from city councillors in April 2006.

But it has taken until now for a deal to be struck between the council and developer over its level of contribution to the tram scheme and education services – which remains undisclosed.

Property experts today said the hold-up was "appalling" and urged the council to speed up its legal process.

Some demolition work and archeological checks have already taken place, and the construction project, which will take three years, will begin early next year.

More than 400 homes will be built, mainly one and two-bedroom flats, with one-quarter earmarked for affordable housing.

Philip Myerscough, managing director of BL Developments, said: "Signing of the (legal agreements] has taken an inordinate amount of time.

These things always take longer then you hope, and this is a major development, so inevitably has taken longer.

"But it's going to be fantastic for Leith Walk and the city."

A long-running battle over the depot was previously staged between residents and housebuilder Wimpey, which twice had a 30m scheme knocked back by councillors.

The new owners scaled back the size of some of the proposed buildings and moved them further apart to provide more public space, following consultation with residents.

Jason Hogg, director of development land at property experts Jones Lang LaSalle, said: "It is appalling that it has taken this long to get a legal agreement signed.

"The developer will feel the pain given the downturn in the market. The council's legal department is clearly under-resourced to deal with the volume of (planning] agreements coming through."

Local Lib Dem councillor Louise Lang said: "Nobody wants to see the site remain as it is, and I look forward to meeting with the developers in the coming weeks to learn more about their plans."

The council declined to comment.