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Should Caltongate protesters take their case to Unesco?

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Published Date: 08 February 2008
BURNING ISSUE
NO

Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

If this is the largest development in Edinburgh's Old Town since the 12th century, then the Caltongate proposals deserved close scrutiny. And this they ha
ve had in spades over four years.

The planning committee's approval of the great majority of the plan, and its caveats, observe two key issues – the need to send a message that developers are welcome here, and that the views of residents and local businesses are important in assessing planning applications.

The idea that the proposals should now be put before Unesco for some kind of further vetting are, frankly, preposterous. In September 2006, Francesco Bandarin, director of the Unesco world heritage centre in Paris, gave a lecture in Edinburgh. I was there. An architect and city planner with impressive academic and professional credentials, Mr Bandarin gave many illustrations of how new design and architecture in successful models has been highly complementary to existing heritage sites.

One of his approvals was for the contemporary pyramidal structure in front of the Louvre in Paris, which some might see as a travesty. But Unesco is neither democratic nor a planning authority. I do not pretend to be a judge of architectural taste, but might it not be more of a travesty if our only solution in modern architecture was to build mock baronial kitsch? It is not a choice for us to freeze our city in architectural aspic. The sensible decisions taken this week were done so with that understanding.

Replacing eyesores such as an abandoned bus station is an opportunity for boldness and style which is world class.

YES

Sally Richardson, a campaigner with the Save Our Old Town action group

The Save Our Old Town campaigners are planning to inform Unesco that Edinburgh needs to be placed on their official "list of World Heritage Sites in danger".

We want to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which Edinburgh was inscribed on the World Heritage list, and to encourage corrective action.

We believe the Caltongate proposals will damage the unique character of The Old Town and challenge the contrast between the New Town and the Old Town.

Edinburgh was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site (WHS) in 1995. According to Edinburgh World Heritage Trust's own website, the management plan identifies key features of the World Heritage Site such as the unique landscape, the contrasting architectural characters of the medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town, and the history and heritage of Scotland's ancient capital.

Unesco can place Edinburgh on the register of sites at risk, and eventually remove WHS status, if it considers that the site no longer is worthy of it.

Unesco closely monitors the site and, given the scale of the plans and the sheer destruction of historic buildings, we believe it is most likely that it will join other sites being closely monitored because of inappropriate developments planned, such as Dresden and St Petersburg.

The councillors who approved the Caltongate proposals made it quite clear it is money they are interested in, rather than the priceless qualities that the Old Town has.





The full article contains 536 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 07 February 2008 8:58 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Old Town Resident,

edinburgh 08/02/2008 07:26:42
Mr Birse, The Caltongate Masterplan was first unveiled in October 2005, so the public have had around 2 and a half years of being told how fantastic it is by the council, Mountgrange, PPS Group the spin doctors and of course you and the Chamber of Commerce, where you have Manish Chande Mountgrange developer as head of your property portfolio. Ex council leader Donald Anderson who was and still is Pro Caltongate now works promoting Caltongate in his role as director of Mountgranges PR company PPS Group. So no not four years.

""the need to send a message that developers are welcome here, and that the views of residents and local businesses are important in assessing planning applications.""
Well, you must have attended a different meeting, as the committee made it quite clear they had not listend to the 7 deputations against this development and looked at the objections from hundreds of individuals as well as heritage bodies etc. They were there to push it through no matter what. It was pitiful to watch.
And theres also the fact to consider that the developer Manish Chande is on the board of English Heritage, and that former English Heritage Malcolm Cooper is now in Historic Scotland. Historic Scotland are not stopping this blatent destruction. Cooper and Chande are friends.
http://business.scotsman.com/business/Cooper-has-modern-take-on.2833757.jp

There is much more to this whole saga than a case of yes or no to £300million pounds.
2

mad moo,

edinburgh 08/02/2008 10:15:13
The financial benefit to the 'Planning Authority' also flags up serious issues for the future of planning as a government function and therefore this case needs to be fully scrutinised by Scottish Ministers.

If Planning Authorities are allowed to ride roughshod over there own statutory policies, completely unchecked, to facilitate a developer who is to share the profits of a development and who will give cash for that authorities land (at less than market value) then why bother having a planning system at all.
This development promoted by the council, in the face of massive opposition from individuals, community groups and established heritage organisations needs to be assessed in an open and transparant manor - Public Inquiry - and determined by an authority which does not have a direct financial interest.

If the Galleries on Princes St required a closer look due to direct involvement then so does this. Interesting that Allan Murray was also involved with that and despite the council support (and from Trevor 'Frequent flyer to Paris to keep UNESCO advised that Edinburgh's heritage is safe') The public Inquiry resulted in a resounding REFUSAL.
3

Buttress,

08/02/2008 10:58:41
Mr Birse makes the mistake of thinking that sensitive architecture for this site should be 'mock baronial kitsch'. Clearly the man has little idea, but he's keen to air his ignorance.

Of course not - but it needs to be something that fits in its historic context, and isn't simply a 'pile it high and cram it in' clone town development of the sort of architecture which is fashionable this year and will be deeply unfashionable by next. Sofitel, the French hotel chain which is to have listed buildings demolished in order to build a carbuncle of a hotel, should be deeply ashamed. The rape of Edinburgh by Mountgrange must not go unchallenged. It is possible to have architecture of our time which is sensitive to the site.

Nor should the development be demolishing listed buildings and making a mockery of others in a conservation area by turning them into film set facades - terrible conservation, deeply inauthentic.

Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, the body which is responsible for the management of the WHS, has objected throughout to these plans, and is also the body which advises Ministers on the site, has objected strongly throughout to the plans, which it considers damaging to the WHS. The council seems to have forgotten about the WHS Management Plan, to which it agreed.

The new Director of the EWHT, Adam Wilkinson, has this to say last week:

'The World Heritage site is both architecturally and historically of the highest order of importance, but it is also a living city with a strong identity. It must be seen as a spur to creative and respectful answers to further development, not a barrier to change.

Edinburgh World Heritage has a strong proactive role to play in protecting and promoting the enduring values of the World Heritage Site. I greatly look forward to helping shape that role in the future.”

(As Secretary of SAVE, Adam has led campaigns to save a variety of threatened historic buildings, from aircraft test structures at RAE Farnborough
4

Buttress,

08/02/2008 10:59:33
cont

Farnborough to terraced housing targeted under the government’s Pathfinder scheme.)’

See:
http://www.ewht.org.uk/New-Director.aspx

The Caltongate plans are neither creative nor respectful answers. They are crass and cash driven, and if they go ahead then they will certainly put at risk the WHS status of Edinburgh.

Ministers will have to have the final say on any planning decision, as they go against national policy for listed buildings and conservation areas.

UNESCO will have a final say on the WHS as it's an international responsibility, belonging to all the people of the world.

I think it's time Mr Birse was sent packing by his Chamber of Commerce. Clearly, he's keen on the destruction of Edinburgh, tourists won't flock to see Caltongate and I suspect many of his members rely on tourism for their businesses.

www.eh8.org.uk
5

Buttress,

08/02/2008 11:02:47
See also:

http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Heritage-status-probe-looms-over.3757952.jp

Where the debate continues
6

Seb,

08/02/2008 11:23:52
If the quality of the Caltongate scheme was that of IM Pei's work at the Louvre, I'd accept the demolition of the Canongate Venture. But it isn't. Mr Birse doesn't strike me as sopmeone you'd find hanging round the Louvre anyway, more of a La Defense character - corporate and soulless.
7

Buttress,

08/02/2008 11:26:59
I don't think Allan Murray an architect and Masterplanner of international stature either, alongside his mate (he of the carbuncle hotel) Malcolm Fraser.

Even Mr Fraser's ex colleague Neil Simpson, award winning architect, sent in a strong objection to the plans.

I wouldn't object so much either if the demolition was for something of great value to the city - but a Sofitel hotel?

8

Buttress,

08/02/2008 11:38:50
Somw more bad news for Scottish heritage, which makes it important that UNESCO is kept informed of the Caltongate development:


Scottish heritage body to be scrapped

'Following the news ...that no new heritage protection legislation is to be brought forward in Scotland, now the independent Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (HEACS) is to be abolished. HEACS, sponsored by Historic Scotland, is one of several conservation bodies affected by plans confirmed on 30th January by First Minister Alex Salmond. Fifty two bodies will be abolished or merged reducing the number of national public organisations in Scotland to 121.

Robin Turner Head of Archaeological Services for the National Trust for Scotland commented 'HEACS is the only body to provide independent advice to Scottish ministers and offer longer term strategic thinking… It's not seen as Historic Scotland's remit to look as broadly and deeply as HEACS does at the historic infrastructure. HEACS has a reputation for being independent and constructively critical'. '






9

Buttress,

08/02/2008 13:13:44
RICS is hosting a lecture next Friday in Glasgow where this development is being held as a model of sustainability!

How sustainable is demolition?


http://www.rics.org/Practiceareas/Builtenvironment/Sustainableconstruction/designsustain_caltongatemasterplan_e_130208.html
10

Buttress,

09/02/2008 12:45:15
See also:

http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Caltongate-given-a-Black-mark.3761926.jp

 

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