‘Pastiche’ rises from Old Town ashes

WORK will finally get under way on the site of Edinburgh’s devastating Old Town fire early next year after councillors ruled against their own officials and Historic Scotland over the design of a major hotel development.

Period features are to be incorporated into the Ibis hotel despite fears a major thoroughfare through the world heritage site would be blighted by a “pastiche” development.

Such designs had been previously banned for the site – which was cleared by the blaze in the Cowgate just over nine years ago – in a blueprint agreed by the council as a template for developers. Council planners yesterday warned the building would “look a bit odd” and would set a dangerous precedent in the historic heart of the city, rather than encourage modern designs.

However, councillors intervened to insist on the changes to the 259-room hotel, which will have its main entrance on South Bridge, after heritage bodies criticised the designs as “bland” and “uninspiring”. Leading architect James Simpson, a heritage adviser to Unesco, had lodged an 11th-hour plea to the council saying its officers were guilty of “a stream of misunderstood conservation philosophy”.

Buckinghamshire-based developer Jansons, who bought the site after a previous developer pulled out, despite winning permission for a separate hotel scheme, said it was “delighted” with the council’s decision.

Managing director Andy Jansons said: “This is a clear sign the city is keen to secure the right kind of development in the city centre. Work will start on site early in the next year and we are determined to deliver a development of which we and the city can be proud.”

A string of conservation groups, including Edinburgh World Heritage, the Cockburn Association and the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, had withdrawn backing for the scheme after the council and Historic Scotland insisted on changes to reflect a “more modernist approach”.

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce had also urged the council to approve the earlier plans, rather than those favoured by its own officials, who had raised concerns about the “authenticity” of a modern hotel development with 18th-century features.

Principal planner Nancy Jamieson told yesterday’s planning meeting: “Our general view is that new developments should not have to reinstate exactly what was there before, they should merely reflect what was there before. It was felt that this design would have looked a bit odd and that’s why a more modernist approach was supported.”

But Tory councillor Cameron Rose said: “My own view is that a policy of resisting pastiche at all times has not served us well. The more detailed design does look the better of the two.”

Marion Williams, director of the Cockburn Association, said: “The whole system needs to be looked at. During early discussions with heritage groups we were shown one design which everyone bought into and when it came to the actual application it was totally different.

“Common sense has prevailed but a lot of time and money has been wasted on this project over the last few months, and it could have been avoided.”