Green councillor for Southside/Newington, Steve Burgess, will ask Edinburgh’s Planning Committee tomorrow (Wednesday 11th November) to bring forward a Place Brief for Summerhall, recognising the “cultural, creative and community space” that thrives there.
Summerhall is home to more than 100 small businesses, hundreds of artists and performers, and one of the Fringe’s leading venues.
Its owner has chosen a preferred bidder, who is consulting on plans for partial demolition and new hotels, student flats and serviced apartments alongside a reduced arts centre.
Councillor Burgess is urging the council to establish a Place Brief to recognise its artistic and cultural value.
Councillor Burgess said: “On Wednesday, Greens are calling on every party on the Planning Committee to protect Summerhall. Planning guidance must be strengthened so that any future development takes account of the hundreds of artists, performers and small businesses who make Summerhall what it is.
“With artistic and cultural spaces at St Margaret’s House and Argyle House already lost, the city can’t afford to lose another. It has the power to save Summerhall, but it must act now rather than let developers preside over its destruction.”
A Place Brief is a set of high-level planning principles, drawn up by the local authority, to guide the development, design and use of a specific site.
The Astley Ainslie Place Brief, on which the Council is currently consulting, is a recent example.