In the news, w/e July 24
In today’s edition:
Views sought on Leith Theatre’s future;
Gilmerton guidelines published;
Fears for empty cinema;
Edinburgh Park office block reportedly sold;
Gorgie Road closure lifted a week early;
Visitor levy kicks in today;
Marchmont bins’ ‘misery’;
Average house price, Scotland;
Argyle House amendments expected when planning application finally submitted;
Residents reportedly asked to move out of their homes, to allow for mineshaft repairs;
Wanted: community heritage officer for Granton;
Currie plot of land being marketed for sale;
Cowgate experience gives former council leader confidence of Princes Street recovery; and
Enjoy, see you next Friday!
Views sought on Leith Theatre’s future
VIEWS are being sought on the future refurbishment of Leith Theatre.
Begin an online survey, here: “Leith Theatre is working towards reopening as a vibrant venue for live music, performances and community events. We are speaking to people across Leith, Edinburgh and beyond to understand what makes venues feel welcoming, what kinds of events people enjoy and how this historic building can best serve the community.”
Said a spokesperson: “A design team is already in place, as part of a development-funded programme from National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“Early work has included completion of ‘RIBA Stage 1’ [preparation and brief].”
Gilmerton guidelines published
A NEW set of guidelines, to help shape the future of Gilmerton, has been published by the city council’s planning team.
Says the team, here, the ‘Gilmerton Conservation Area Character Appraisal’ was approved by the council’s Planning committee (here) on the 17th of last month.
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Fears for empty cinema
THE owner of the Odeon cinema on Clerk Street has reportedly been busy with lots of different other projects - including The Scotsman Hotel - since he is believed to have purchased the Art Deco building 12 years ago.
But a long read on the Edinburgh Inquirer website - here - speaks of fears (and ambitions among local people) about the cinema’s future.
Says writer, Emma Newlands: “The council said it would not normally get involved in any stalled development proposals for a site, with the owner of the property responsible for progressing such work.”
Edinburgh Park office block reportedly sold
A PROMINENT office block in Edinburgh Park has been reportedly sold to a Manchester-based investment and development company.
The new owners are understood to be Hurstwood Holdings.
The story is picked up by The Scotsman newspaper, here, The Herald, here and the website, Project Scotland, here.
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Gorgie Road closure lifted a week early
A SIX-month road closure has been lifted on Gorgie Road, in west Edinburgh, a week earlier than envisaged, following the completion of work to make the Water of Leith cleaner.
Says Scottish Water, in a media release, the £3m project “involved constructing a new overflow chamber with a powered screen to reduce sewer-related debris entering the watercourse during heavy rainfall events”.
It adds: “Traffic management which was in place between Robb’s Loan and Hutchison Crossway for six months was removed a week earlier than planned and this busy junction has now been fully reopened.”
The story is picked up by the Edinburgh Evening News newspaper, here.
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Visitor levy kicks in today
A MODEST charge for overnight stays by visitors to Edinburgh begins today: the Visitor Levy, as announced, here, by the city council.
Says the council: “A five per cent fee will now apply to the cost of all paid overnight accommodation in Scotland’s capital city, capped at five nights in a row. The levy is charged at the same rate every day of the year.”
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Marchmont bins’ ‘misery’
BEGINS Ian Swanson, in the Edinburgh Evening News: “A [Marchmont] resident who lives with a bin hub right outside her house says ‘every day is a misery’ as she is confronted by flytipped furniture, the noise of smashing glass, the smell of mouldy food and personal waste strewn in the street.”
Read more, here.
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Average house price, Scotland
THE average house price in Scotland during May was £196,000 - according to the Registers of Scotland.
Says RoS, here, the figure is four per cent up on 12 months’ previously and 1.5 per cent on the previous month, April.
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Argyle House amendments expected when planning application finally submitted
A REDUCTION in the height of a proposed hotel and residential development on the site of the Brutalist building, Argyle House - on Lady Lawson Street - is expected when its owners finally submit a planning application, within the next couple of months.
The likely amendment - which is expected to include the upper floors to the proposal being ‘stepped back’ - follows two public consultation events as part of the developer’s original ideas, contained in a Proposal of Application Notice (here, ref: 25/05912/PAN).
Says the PAN: “Demolition of existing building and redevelopment of the site for mixed-use development comprising residential, hotel and office use with ancillary commercial spaces, associated open space, car parking landscaping and ancillary works.”
The amendment details were shared at a third public event, held on the 14th.
The story is picked up, here, by the Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
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Residents reportedly asked to move out of their homes, to allow for mineshaft repairs
RESIDENTS of new housing in Gilmerton have reportedly been asked to move out of their homes, for an estimated eight weeks, to allow for repairs to mineshaft workings underneath their properties.
Reports Chloe Goodall, on the Edinburgh Live website, here, the affected properties are on Gilbert View.
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Wanted: community heritage officer for Granton
A PROJECT ‘linking and restoring the fragmented heritage of Granton Waterfront’ is looking to recruit a ‘community heritage officer’.
The job advert - with a deadline for applications being the third of next month - can be found, here.
Also wanted: a Heat Network development officer, at Porty Community Energy. Deadline: the sixth of next month. Details here.
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Currie plot of land being marketed for sale
AN 0.2-acre plot of land in Currie - with planning permission for nine flats - is being marketed for sale, at offers over £500,000. Here.
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Cowgate experience gives former council leader confidence of Princes Street recovery
THE way the city responded to a major fire in the Cowgate in 2002 (as reported here, by the BBC) has given former city council leader, Donald Anderson, reason to believe Edinburgh will recover from the fire that a couple of weeks ago severely damaged the Debenhams building on Princes Street.
In his regular column for the Edinburgh Evening News newspaper - here - he writes: “The destruction [in the Cowgate] was immense and there were genuine fears that the area could take decades to recover. But recover it did.”
Image details: Circus Lane, Stockbridge; copyright Mike Wilson