The damning letter speaking of a ‘missed opportunity’

To: Elaine Robertson, Development Management, City of Edinburgh Council

It appeared that the scheme was developing well, in a manner that had support of a broad range of bodies in the city involved in architecture and heritage.

It was with surprise and hence disappointment that we studied the proposals that form the planning application, with the gable shorn of detail, and the modernist architecture of the Cowgate block watered down.

As a result the proposals represent a missed opportunity to really support and enhance the outstanding universal value of the World Heritage Site, instead weakening the authenticity and integrity, and weakening the opportunity to revitalise the South Bridge area.

From our discussions with the other heritage organisations operating in the city we cannot understand what motivated an apparent loss of nerve on the part of the applicant. We strongly urge them to reconsider the application to produce a scheme which would garner our (and others’) support; currently the proposals do not merit this.

From: Adam Wilkinson, director of Edinburgh World Heritage