Cowgate rising from the ashes

A NEW hotel, arts centre, homes and offices are all planned for the Cowgate fire site, which is being touted as the home for a new cultural quarter in the Edinburgh.

A major new concert hall, gallery, cinema or theatre are all being put forward as possible tenants for the 40m development, which is to be called SoCo.

A planning application for the site is likely to be submitted within months and it is hoped work on the scheme could be complete in the next four years.

An entrance to the modern 140-bed hotel would be created on South Bridge, and Edinburgh-based developer Whiteburn intends its plans to trigger a major regeneration of the street.

New through routes are envisaged to link Chambers Street and South Bridge to the Cowgate, while two new squares are planned at the heart of the development, as well as a nightclub.

The site off South Bridge has lain derelict for more than three years after a massive fire ripped through the Old Town, destroying several buildings and costing millions of pounds worth of damage.

More than 150 fire engines from across central Scotland helped tackle the flames for a period of 52 hours until the fire was extinguished shortly before midnight on December 7, 2002. The blaze was blamed on a faulty fuse box.

Whiteburn has a contract to buy the site and a deal is expected to be sealed within weeks.

John Shepherd, chief executive of Whiteburn, said: "In SoCo, thrilling 21st century architecture will bring together all the levels and layers of this intricate and energetic part of town.

"It will pitch you right into the heart of everything Edinburgh has to offer and kick-start the regeneration of this well-known but disconnected quarter."

Whiteburn said it was about to embark on an international drive to promote the development to prospective tenants with a five-star hotel - complete with a bar, restaurant, banqueting and conference facilities - planned to be the top priority.

New shops, offices, serviced apartments and flats may also be created in the development, which the firm believes could create more than 200 permanent jobs.

The firm was also behind the Tun complex on Holyrood Road and has enlisted the same architect, Allan Murray, for the new development.

Jonathan Sutton, agent for the developer, added: "SoCo will be a fabulous location for a hotel or luxury apartments.

"As a vibrant cultural centre, it would be perfect for a gallery, cinema, concert hall or Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue and we're already fielding enquiries from a variety of potential users."

Mr Murray said: "Good urban design is not simply about buildings or facades. It's about finding the right mix of vibrant uses, forging useful pedestrian links, making new urban spaces and creating a sense of place and character.

"Our vision seeks to assist in the regeneration not only of the South Bridge, but also of the Cowgate and Chambers Street. We look forward to creating a new piece of high quality architecture in this much neglected part of the Old Town."

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