A HOTEL, restaurant and five new car showrooms would be created on the outskirts of the city under new plans unveiled today.
The proposal would see the new development raised on a plot of vacant land on Whitehill Road, close to the Kinnaird Park shopping complex.
Plans for the scheme have been lodged with the city council by the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, and w
ould include new access and service roads to the site.
The developers are only seeking outline permission at this stage, to ascertain whether the idea is one that would be acceptable. No details have been provided as to the possible size of the hotel or a timescale for when the development may be carried out.
However, the proposed scheme on land designated for business and industrial use, is already facing one objection, from Newcraighall resident Terence Olver, whose house is right on the edge of the site.
Mr Olver said the development would add to pollution in the already congested area and affect the privacy of his home.
"The area of land at Whitehill Road is already very congested and polluted, both in terms of noise and smell with vehicle exhaust fumes and carbon smells caused by constant congestion," he said.
"The proposal to install a hotel and car parking area to the rear of my property will effectively remove any privacy we have. It will affect our quality of life."
Heritage watchdog the Cockburn Association has also raised concerns about the development.
It says that while the proposed hotel and restaurant would be welcome, the car showrooms should be "critically assessed".
Particular attention should be given to concerns that the building could be converted into more out-of-town retail units in future, says the watchdog.
Despite these concerns, the plans have been recommended for approval by council planning officials, who suggest the potential noise and pollution problems could be "suitably controlled" by "restrictive" planning conditions.
Alan Henderson, the council's head of planning and strategy, said: "The introduction of a hotel could provide significant benefits to the area in terms of urban design, by way of presenting a strong building line to the street and increasing the security of the area by providing evening activity and a 24-hour presence."
He admitted there was a potential problem for local residents, in terms of both overshadowing and road safety, but insisted these issues could only be looked at once detailed plans for the hotel and associated developments were submitted.
A decision on the application is expected to be made by the council's planning committee on Wednesday.
The full article contains 436 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
