Ten years on, £80m conference centre extension gets go-ahead

Published on Wednesday 9 December 2009 22:05

WORK on an extension of Edinburgh's main conference centre is set to get under way – ten years after plans were unveiled.

Planners yesterday gave the go-ahead to the creation of a huge new underground complex for the Edinburgh International Conference Centre – as well as a striking new "entrance pavilion".

The 80 million scheme was approved despite concerns from councillors over the design of an eight-storey office block, which will help to pay for the new conference facilities.

Officials had earlier warned that rejection of the plans would "seriously compromise" Edinburgh's efforts to compete with major rivals for business tourism events. The EICC had feared that the plans being sent back to the drawing board would be another setback for a project dogged by problems and running at least five years behind schedule.

The expansion scheme will allow the EICC's banqueting facilities to cater for up to 1,800, compared with the current 850, while the underground area will also be able to be turned into a 1,600-seat auditorium. The new facilities are expected to help generate an extra 50 million a year for the capital's economy.

Officials pledged to start work on site by next June. A previous scheme, backed by the council, was shelved in April 2007 when the developers pulled out – a blow to the city's efforts to attract major conferences and events.

It took more than a year for the EICC to reach agreement with the council and Scottish Enterprise to help fund the expansion without private sector involvement. New architects were brought in to change the design of the atrium-style entrance building and the office block, only for the new plans to fall foul of Sir Terry Farrell, the original master planner for the capital's financial district.

However, councillors yesterday voted unanimously to approve the development after recently making a site visit.

One councillor, Colin Keir, called the office block "horrendous", but said it appeared that there were no obvious grounds on which to turn it down.

But former lord provost Eric Milligan, another member of the planning committee, said: "The economic case is undeniable, and it could well help this to become a more vibrant part of the city."

EICC chief executive Hans Rissmann said: "It's been a long time, but we're delighted to get to this stage."

He went on: "We're hoping to appoint a contractor shortly, with a view to starting work in June and, all going well, the new facilities will be ready by the end of 2012 or early in 2013.

HOSTILE REACTION AS HOSTEL TOUTS FOR BUSINESS

COUNCILLORS are to visit the site of a backpackers' hostel set to open its doors in Edinburgh's Old Town without planning permission. Campaigners have demanded the rejection of the plans to turn a former Salvation Army hostel in the Grassmarket into a hostel after work started several months ago before councillors had ruled on the development.

The Art Roch hostel is already taking bookings and promoting its bar, even though there is a ban on new licences being issued in the area.

Community leaders have accused the hostel owner of ruining a community garden named after town planner Patrick Geddes by chopping down trees and earmarking it for a beer garden. However, officials have given their approval to the hostel, insisting it will be returning a historic building to its original use – even though it was built as a women's refuge in 1900.