Planning Issues 2007

by Marian McIntyre & Bryan Wade
(reprinted from The Inverleith News, Spring 2008)

Mews cottage development on Inverleith Terrace Lane
Building houses on large garden plots causes great dismay to neighbouring residents but is nowadays a development permitted by the Planning Department to increase housing density. The proposal to build a mews cottage on Inverleith Terrace Lane was regretted by many residents. The Society objected to this development on the grounds of increased traffic, and there were many other objections, but permission was granted for one cottage in February 2007 and a further one in June 2007. The cottages are designed by Michael Laird and Partners (architects for the Tanfield development) and may eventually be an interesting addition to the lane.

9 Inverleith Row – front garden to be altered to accommodate parking
The Society and many other residents objected to the retrospective application to reduce the extent of the perimeter wall and remove existing planting, but revised plans were submitted and have now been approved. The Society regrets the loss of amenity caused by converting front gardens into car parks, especially now that the Zone 2 parking arrangements have eased the on-street parking problems, so there should be no need for additional off-street parking.

7 Inverleith Row – conversion of house and removal of front garden
This development entailed substantial work converting the house to five flats for short term lets. We understand that, following internal work which did not comply with the planning permission, the City issued formal enforcement notices in April. These require the restoration of internal historic features, and also of the front garden, the loss of which is very much regretted by the Society. We fully support the City and trust that the remedial work will be rigorously enforced.

Boarding houses and floodlit hockey pitches and parking in Kinnear Road
The boarding houses have been sold by the Edinburgh Academy for conversion to flats. The Society and many other residents objected to the proposal for floodlit hockey pitches and parking on Newfield, accessed from East Fettes Avenue.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – West Gate development
The new Gateway project is now under way, requiring the closure of the West Gate from May 2007. A minor gate has been opened on Inverleith Place, to the north. The Society wrote to RGBE expressing concerns related to access, safety, and signage.

Warriston Playing Fields Feasibility Study
Following the meeting in November 2006 at the Northern Bowling Club, including Inverleith Society Committee members (see Inverleith News 2006, page 9), the City of Edinburgh produced a Feasibility Study on the Warriston Playing Fields. This study looked at combining the facilities and consolidating the sports use on the field, including the bowling, the proposed tennis club, and not least the substantial number of football teams with a wide age range from tinies upwards. The Society supports the tremendous work carried out by volunteers to enable these sports, and welcomes the study. Consolidation of sport on this field is important. Unfortunately the study did not consult very widely, and the Inverleith Society was not able to endorse certain proposals such as floodlighting, which would intrude particularly on Eildon Street. With more work and contribution by all parties, this initiative may prove useful in future, though the scheme is very expensive and funding has not been identified.

Botanics Hotel conversion, Inverleith Row
An application to convert the Botanics Hotel into two basement flats and two houses, restoring the original entrance portico, has been granted.

Bangholm Terrace
Cala Homes has now started work on the 21 flats within Heriot’s playing fields. The residents of Homescott and Homecairn are mourning the loss of their stupendous views of the Castle and Arthur’s Seat.

Tanfield
The former office of Standard Life was, we understand, sold in May 2007 for redevelopment as multi-occupancy offices. Work on the building appeared to start before permissions had been sought, and, when these were submitted, the Society objected on the grounds that the domes would be largely obscured by the building up of offices around their bases, and that the roof garden would be lost. However permission has since been granted.

Trinity Gardens (formerly Trinity House)
Work has now started on this substantial housing development which borders our boundaries at Goldenacre.

Marian McIntyre
Bryan Wade

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