Heritage adviser to discuss hotel plan

A BODY which advises world heritage guardian Unesco is set to discuss the controversial hotel development which has triggered a rebellion of conservation groups in Edinburgh.

Concerns over the “bland” and “uninspiring” hotel scheme earmarked for the site of the Old Town fire in 2002 are expected to be raised with the International Council on Monuments and Sites next week.

James Simpson, vice-chairman of the organisation’s UK wing, said: “The design of this development must fit in with the surrounding set-piece architecture of the area. At the moment it would look totally out of place.”

The news has been revealed just days after it emerged Edinburgh World Heritage, the Cockburn Association and the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland had withdrawn their backing for the SoCO project due to last-minute changes.