Plans to demolish a rundown Edinburgh New Town office block and create new flats and shops have been rejected by the council.
The City of Edinburgh Council refused the application on October 6 to create 50 new flats and three shops, with basement level car parking at the site of the old Centrum House building in Dundas Street.
As well as the three new retail units the the scheme proposed the apartment building, with a mixture of two, three, and four bedroom flats of different sizes.
The design for the new apartment building was be created in a unique ‘L’ shape, with a communal garden space to be created near the basement level.
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However, bosses at the council ruled that “the proposed development fails to deliver a positive impact on its setting by way of its design, footprint and street relationship.”
They continued by saying on the planning application decision letter that “the proposed development would have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the conservation and the setting of adjacent listed buildings.”
There were almost 50 objections to the proposal on the planning application from nearby residents.
One said: “It seems that the proposals show no empathy for the true history and ethos of Edinburgh as a centre of learning and forward thinking. Instead of following our predecessors example of embracing new ideas, this development seeks to turn the clock back to the 1960s and their concrete blocks.”
Another resident added: “The building should be retained. However, the building proposed is too high and will affect the views down Dundas Street. It should form the same footprint that is currently there and ideally reduce the height of the current building. The trees should be retained they are an important green space.”
