Hotels lead the way in Princes Street revamp

THE Capital's new tram line has helped attract the interest of three hotel operators who are in talks about opening on Princes Street.

Jewellery and fashion stores are also showing interest in moving on to the street, despite the economic downturn, according to city officials working to mastermind its regeneration.

The positive moves were revealed by council chiefs today as they announced new details of their vision for the future of Princes Street.

The council is brokering talks between property owners and potential investors in an effort to kick-start redevelopment.

The three hotel chains – one luxury, one mid-priced and one aimed at the family market – are all said to have been encouraged by the prospect of trams running straight from the airport to Princes Street, as well as other redevelopments taking place on the street.

The council has set out a "string of pearls" vision which foresees various blocks along Princes Street developing with distinct characteristics.

The council today released an updated development blueprint showing plans for public courtyards at the back of key buildings on Princes Street, such as Boots and Marks & Spencer.

They would complement proposals to introduce traditional shopping arcades along newly created breakthroughs between Princes Street and Rose Street, as well as a big revamp of the lanes around Rose Street.

Jonathan Guthrie, city centre development partnership director for the city council, said: "Things are progressing well. It is our role to facilitate and encourage dialogue between investors and land owners and I am confident this will bear fruit.

"Within the next 12 months, we expect to have more deals finalised with new operators or retailers lined up as well.

"The idea of shopping arcades are not a new concept for Edinburgh, but they can open up new links between the different streets in the city centre.

"With the hotels, the city does have a recognised shortage of beds and there are clear attractions to hotel operators, including the tram link to the airport."

Mr Guthrie said talks with property owners and overseas investors were progressing well, adding talks had been held with a number of fashion and jewellery retailers who are new to the UK and keen to come to Edinburgh.

The development chief has just returned from an international real estate conference in France where he said there was strong interest in Edinburgh from all over the world.

"Despite the downturn, Edinburgh is seen as a safe investment globally and we aim to capitalise on that," he added.

"The current financial problems do not affect the sorts of investors we are talking to as much because they are looking at the longer-term picture in terms of a ten or 20-year timeframe."

The first steps on the "string of pearls" vision have seen plans submitted for an £850 million revamped St James Centre and a new 103-bedroom hotel at 121-123 Princes Street.

The next regeneration focus is now likely to switch towards the west end for which it is hoped detailed plans will be in place within 12 months.

The updated blueprint released today includes more details of previously announced plans to bring the lanes running parallel to Princes Street and Rose Street to life. The majority of these are dark and unappealing places currently used for servicing and rubbish.

It is envisaged that they would be opened up for shops and cafés with the addition of courtyards and breakthroughs from Princes Street.

A similar project in Belfast's Victoria Square brought together a variety of multi-level streets and lanes under a glass covered roof.

The latest council design briefing also includes previously outlined plans to create new glass walkways between key buildings and streets in the city centre.

John Bury, the city council's new head of planning, said: "Princes Street is clearly not fulfilling its potential at the moment and we are taking steps to address that.

"There are so many positives to the Princes Street area, from the gardens to its unrivalled views, that we need to make the most of."

Two listed buildings are to be demolished under plans which will see a £40m glass-fronted hotel and major new department store built on the site directly opposite Edinburgh Castle.

However, heritage groups have not warmed to the plans, upset at the intention to retain only the facade of the Georgian building.

Major shopping developments would be concentrated in the east end, to help capitalise on the close proximity of Harvey Nichols and Multrees Walk, as well as the redeveloped St James Centre.

The west end of Princes Street will be more for the likes of restaurants and bars, and has been dubbed the cultural quarter.

The brief will be put out for a public consultation before being considered by the city council's planning committee next spring.

Tram crisis threatens 'hospital village' plan for Western General
THE trams cash crisis is threatening to derail plans to create a "hospital village" at the Western General.

The proposals, which include moving the Eye Pavilion and dermatology unit from Lauriston Place to the Western, have been revealed by NHS Lothian bosses.

But they say the scheme relies on better public transport links to the Craigleith site, which the proposed tram line 1b from Roseburn to Granton would have provided.

The Evening News revealed last week how the plug is set to be pulled on the £87 million spur line, placing the hospital project in doubt.

NHS Lothian's chief operating officer of acute services and workforce, James McCaffrey, told health board members: "A lot of (the development of the Western] is dependent on the second tram line. Traffic management is one of the main features. I need to get confirmation of what is actually happening."

NHS Lothian bosses essentially want to create two hospital villages in the city.

The Royal Victoria and Royal Edinburgh hospitals would move to the Western, while the Sick Kids and possibly an additional part of the Royal Edinburgh would be transferred to Little France.

A final decision on the future of line 1b has yet to be announced, but a source close to the project said they were only waiting for someone to "sign the death warrant".

Not only would the lack of tram access make it harder for people to get to the Western, it would mean more people taking their cars. Parking is already an issue there after charges were scrapped.

Milestone as project makes tracks
TRAM bosses today hailed a "milestone" in the progress of the £512 million trams project with the arrival of the first set of tracks in the Capital.

The tracks will be transported to South Leith Yard, where they will be stored until their use later in the works.

Work is currently under way to assemble the model tram, which it is hoped will be exhibited to the public early next year.

It is believed one idea under consideration is a mock-up of a tram stop, which could go on show in Princes Street Gardens.