A new anti-development campaign group called Citizen launched in Edinburgh today (24 April), bringing together several high profile campaigning groups - Save Leith Walk, Save Meadowbank, Living Rent (who campaign for rent controls in the city), Fair Fringe (who lobby to ensure Festival workers get a fair wage), and others.
In their manifesto, they say:
"CITIZEN (are) a new network of individuals, campaigns and community groups organising to defend the city of Edinburgh against speculators and developers, corruption and negligence; against the rampant growth model that guides every single decision; against the hollowing-out of the city centre nad the endless prioritisation of the rich against the poor.
"This isn't a capital city it's a city of capital disfigured by exploitation. It doesn't have to be like this."
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They also say that they are considering running candidates for office.
Anger over what is seen to be the council's laissez-faire approach to new development projects, particularly the prioritising of new student accommodation and hotels over affordable housing.
One key member is Save Leith Walk, who are opposing attempts by Drum Property Group to demolish Leith Walk’s iconic sandstone shops (no. 106-154) to make way for new student accommodation blocks capable of housing 532 students, a 56-bedroom hotel, and 6-7 storey high buildings.
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Only 53 flats have been deemed ‘affordable’.
Other issues Citizen plan to take on are the boom in short term lets in the capital, which they see as a sign of 'over-tourism' that is pushing up house prices and forcing year-round residents out of the city.
Citizen member Citizen member Andrew Duncan told Commonpace.scot:
“Developers are building more accommodation at the same time as there is a glut of empty homes bought by unthinking people who like to have an Edinburgh bolthole for occasional holidays and second-home ownership.
"This helps to destroy communities and leads to a rise in property price which in turn contributes to the unaffordability of homes by those who need them.
"The Scottish Government and Edinburgh council are doing little to deal with this issue. That is why this new project is essential.”
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