“Rarely has Leith’s motto ‘Persevere’ been more appropriate”
Save Leith Walk campaigners are celebrating following yesterday’s decision by the city council’sDevelopment Management Sub-Committee to reject Drum Property Group’s £50 million redevelopment plans.
In a statement issued last night, campaign organisers said: “We are delighted by today’s decision. It is a victory for Leith, for Edinburgh and for local democracy.
“It is also a victory for communities across Scotland. It is proof that if you organise and engage with local people, if you stay positive and refuse to give up, then you can have a say in how your area is developed. Rarely has Leith’s motto ‘persevere’ been more appropriate.
“We would like to thank the councillors at today’s meeting for listening to the people who elected them, opposing the demolition and recognising that the proposed development was wholly inappropriate for this site.
“It is testament to the strength of the objections raised today by Leith community councils, the Cockburn Association, residents, local businesses and the Save Leith Walk campaign that councillors have agreed with the community rather than commercial interest.
“We thank the many thousands of people who have supported this campaign, turned up to public meetings, workshops, bought T-shirts, lodged objections, signed petitions and shared ideas. Your voices have been heard.
“This campaign has secured cross-party support and we would like to thank our local MSP, councillors and community councils and who have been steadfast in their objection to the proposed demolition and development at every step of the way.
“We know that this is not the end. Scotland’s flawed planning process gives developers further opportunities to push through their plans. But we hope that the points raised at this meeting mean that today’s decision is upheld in any potential appeals process.
“When public feeling is so strong, when residents, community leaders, business owners, architects, politicians and councillors are united in the belief that your proposals are a bad idea then it is time to go back to the drawing board. It is time for the developer, Edinburgh City council and Edinburgh University to work with the Leith Walk community on a shared vision for this site which puts locals at the heart of the decision-making process.
“We celebrate today’s announcement but we know that there are more hurdles to cross. The spirit and solidarity of this community means that we are ready to face those challenges and to contribute to a vision for Our Leith.”
The decision will come as a bitter disappointment to Drum Property Group – particularly given that council officers had recommended that Drum Property’s plans ‘to transform’ the 2.9 acre Stead’s Place site on Leith Walk should be approved.
Speaking after the release of the committee report last week Graeme Bone, Group Managing Director of Drum said: “We welcome the clarity of the officers’ recommendation which recognises the clear and unambiguous fact that we are responding appropriately to the existing council brief for the area’s redevelopment.
“This is a neglected industrial site that has been earmarked for development by the council since 2008, and remains one of Scotland’s most prominent gap sites. For the past eighteen months, we have worked closely with the council, the local community and many groups, businesses and organisations to address the urgent need to bring new investment, connectivity and life back to this hugely important part of Leith Walk and the wider Pilrig area.
“We have significantly revised our plans following feedback from the council and the local community and now have a design which has been rightly recognised by officers as one that is both appropriate for the area and that meets the council’s stated aspiration for the site – as well as receiving high levels of public support.
He added: “Our proposals bring an added dimension to Leith Walk, opening up what is currently an inhospitable industrial site by creating a vibrant, contemporary and accessible community for residents, business and visitors alike. Given there are no valid planning reasons to oppose the proposals, we are confident that the elected members will now share the view of their officers and give the green light to this major transformational investment opportunity for Leith Walk and the rest of the city.”
Drum’s £50 million proposal for the 2.9-acre Stead’s Place site is for a mixed-used scheme combining high quality, affordable housing for local people and post-graduate student accommodation, as well as a hotel, restaurant, café and retail units.
Drum submitted revised proposals for its Stead’s Place application at the beginning of December 2018, reducing the Leith Walk elevation by one storey to keep the building in line with the surrounding tenement buildings.
The revised proposals, which followed detailed discussions with the University of Edinburgh and the City of Edinburgh Council’s planning team, also included a more defined and distinct row of sandstone retail units facing on to Leith Walk as well as increased provision for cyclists and pedestrians.
It’s likely that Save Leith Walk campaigners may have to ‘persevere’ for a wee while yet, however. Drum Property Group will almost inevitably come back with revised plans …
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