Developer's anger as city snubs Leith site for gig venue

The Evening News can today reveal that the council has picked a 240-acre site between the airport and the headquarters of RBS as its "preferred option" for a new music, indoor sports and conference venue with a capacity of around 6000.

It is hoped that the facility would attract big-name acts like Katy Perry or the Arctic Monkeys who have gigs at Glasgow's SECC but would struggle to find large enough venues in Edinburgh.

The council chose the "Edinburgh International" site, on land owned by New Ingliston Limited, after research suggested it would provide the best economic benefit, with 3.2 million people living within one hour's travel.

But Venue Ventures, the company behind the creation of an 80 million arena in Leeds, claims the council has shown no interest in its own bid to build a similar arena at Leith Docks, on land owned by Forth Ports.

The firm, a joint venture between London-based developer IPW, design firm Arup and builder Davis Langdon, carried out its own research on Edinburgh sites and found the waterfront was the most economically viable.

Nick Russell, director of IPW, said: "We could do it (at the airport site], but every other city in the country and most of the rest of the world recognises that usually you want to put an arena next to other activity because that gives the best economic benefit."

He added: "Normally we have people bending over backwards to try to get us to build an arena. Other cities have been a bit more proactive about it."

One factor influenced the council's choice was that the first phase of the tram project will include a stop within the Edinburgh International site. The airport location is expected to appeal to firms that want to hold conferences.

It claims to have strong interest from potential operators of a venue near the airport.

But Mark Mackie, director of Edinburgh-based promoter Regular, disputed the council's research. He said: "Harthill has four million people within an hour's travel so why don't they build it there?

"There is no spirit of Edinburgh (at the airport], whereas there is in Leith."

Leith councillor Gordon Munro, said: "Leith hosted the MTV awards and with its vibrant music scene makes a natural fit for this venue."

A council report will be published next month that will ask councillors to approve the airport site.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said: "We will seek business cases from potential operators for a world-class venue."