Controversial £90m Craighouse plan gets go-ahead

COUNCILLORS approved plans for a controversial £90 million development in Edinburgh despite a wave of opposition and an impassioned plea from the council leader.
Former Craighouse campus will be converted to homes. Picture: Dan PhillipsFormer Craighouse campus will be converted to homes. Picture: Dan Phillips
Former Craighouse campus will be converted to homes. Picture: Dan Phillips

The proposal concerns a 145-property development in the south of the city on the former Napier University campus Craighouse, which will see 64 homes created by converting 16th and 19th century ­buildings.

A total of 2,000 objections have been submitted against the plans largely led by opposition group Friends of Craighouse.

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The Consortium Craighouse Partnership – comprised of Mountgrange Investment, Sundial Properties and the university itself – submitted original plans in 2011 and has since redrafted the application twice to appease local concerns.

Despite this, sizeable opposition remained against the development and following eight hours of deliberations yesterday, Edinburgh City Council approved the controversial plans.

Council leader Andrew Burn had voiced his objection to the plans and cited several planning policy contraventions. He was joined by Ian Murray MP and MSPs Alison Johnstone and Jim Eadie.

Planning convener Ian Perry said: “Our decision came from concern over the listed buildings and the site itself. The council already has a host of buildings across the city which cost a fortune to maintain.

“What we have tried to do is find a balance of what is good for Edinburgh.”

Rosy Barnes, of Friends of Craighouse, told of her “utter disappointment” in the city council.

She said: “We’s hoped the councillors would show some vision.”