'Canal quarter' plan for church

A DERELICT former church would be turned into dozens of student flats and a waterside restaurant under new plans to help create a 'canal quarter' in the Capital.

The former St Kentigern's Church has been facing demolition for years but previous plans for the site have fallen through

Now, student housing developer ELS Limited has put forward a new scheme that would save the original St Peter's Place building, which is not listed but dates back to 1897.

Under its proposals, the 100-cover restaurant would be on the ground floor of the church and would feature a glazed patio overlooking the canal, allowing for al fresco dining alongside the canal.

The second part of the plan would see 31 student flats would be on the site, divided between the first floor of the church and a large extension to the rear.

The proposals are set to be opposed by local residents though, who are concerned about the number of student flats and issues regarding access.

Architect Bob Tait said: "The building does add to the atmosphere and ambience we want to create, with a mixture of the new and old.

"It has got the tradition that we want to retain. We don't want to knock it down and this will give it a nice character.

"It falls in line with trying to add a bit of leisure along the canal, which is a council policy."

It is not yet known who the restaurant operator would be, as a tenant would not be lined up until a much later stage of the process.

St Kentigern's church was built in 1897 and was designed by the prolific Scottish architect John More Dick Peddie, who also designed the Caledonian Station Hotel – now the Caledonian Hilton.

It was used as a church until 1941 and, since then, it has been a nursery and a garage. It is currently used as a workshop and for storage.

It is seen as being one of the few buildings of historical interest on the south side of the canal and heritage groups have previously tried to get it listed.

Mr Tait said: "The proposal will retain and enhance the original church building and the proposed uses will revitalise what is currently a run-down eyesore in this now very prominent part of the canal, highly visible from the canal walkways."

Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart councillor Gordon Buchan said that, although retaining the church building is welcome, there were widespread concerns about the proposal.

He said: "I have put an objection in on access grounds.

"I don't think anyone wants to see it left vacant but something a bit more sympathetic to residents would be welcome."