CRAIGHOUSE DEVELOPMENT – Please Help Us Save this Special Site by  Objecting to Excessive “Scheme 3”

Thanks so much for all your support so far. It’s really important to object again even if you have already objected to the previous schemes so that we can achieve a positive future for this site. Please do it today – don’t forget. The Council have said this application will go to a decision this time – we hope so.

The Craighouse Partnership’s (Mountgrange, Napier University and Sundial Properties) excessive and ugly plans provoked the largest number of objections ever seen by Edinburgh planning department for a single application. Thousands wrote in to object to excessive newbuild against policy on this protected site – one of only 8 Areas of Great Landscape Value in the whole Edinburgh area (others include: Arthur’s Seat, Silverknowes Sands, Botanics and the Hermitage of Braid).

IMPORTANT: HOW TO OBJECT

Quote:  Planning Ref No: 12/04007/SCH3

You can object using one of the following methods:

• Email the planner in charge: emma.wilson@edinburgh.gov.uk
• Write to: Head of Planning, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street  
  EH8 8BG
• Use the Edinburgh Planning Portal online at: https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk
  Find  Simple Search  put in the application number: 12/04007/SCH3 and it will come up. Click on log in and follow instructions and write your comments. We recommend also sending your objection to councilors, so email is probably easier.
  

Remember: put the planning reference no: 12/04007/SCH3 address: Napier Campus  Craighouse  as well as your name, address and the date.

Example Quick Objection:

“Ref:12/04007/SCH3Craighouse Campus

Dear Emma Wilson

“I object to Scheme 3 (ref: 12/04007/SCH3). This is not a real enabling development and contravenes planning policy. I want the Council and community to work together to make sure the woodland and greenspace is preserved and the listed buildings developed positively in line with the alternative community plan”.

[ADD YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS]

DEADLINE FOR OBJECTIONS: 4th July 2014

Please Object to Excessive Scheme 3 – even if you objected before:     If you have already signed a petition or wrote in last year, thank you, but it is very important you write in to object again if you disagree with the new. Get family/friends to write in separate letters or emails as they are counted as separate objections (multiple names on the same letter won’t count as separate objections. A short letter is better than no letter – get everyone you know who cares to write in.

Together we can save this beautiful site.

What to Write – This doesn’t have to be like a solicitor’s letter, just put it in your own words. Please include at least one material planning objection to make sure to count in planning terms.

MATERIAL PLANNING OBJECTIONS

1. This site is protected against newbuild development in planning policy.

2. There is no Enabling Development Case: The enabling case is deeply flawed and goes against the guidelines. The site will be spoilt and there are viable alternatives. The newbuild is not a proven minimum. The sales prices for the listed buildings are artificially low and the conversion costs inflated. The A-listed buildings are profitable developed alone.

3. Craighouse is not designated for housing in the Edinburgh Local Plan. It is highly protected green Open Space which Edinburgh Council are obliged to protect ‘whether publicly or privately owned’

4. New-build ruins the setting of the Grade A Listed Buildings against policy: the setting and views of the oldest building – Old Craig built in 1565 – will be spoilt by Burton a large 5/6 storey block. New Craig and the villas will be dominated by large imposing and very long housing blocks in the woodland. Clouston will dominate its historic neighbour, Bevan.

5. The character of the Conservation Area will be spoilt contrary to policy which protects the setting of Victorian buildings against dramatic landscape backdrops (see above). The new houses and carparking at Craiglea Place are out of keeping and spoil the country feel of the entrance of the site and Right of Way.

6. Loss of Public Amenity with loss of open space and beautiful woodland and views. Areas of traditional walks destroyed. Loss of beauty, naturalness, mature trees and views.

7. Roads/carparks 308 carparking spaces will turn areas of Open Space to brownfield against policy. The road report is worried about increased hazards to children and pedestrians.

8. Schooling: the number of dwellings will create more strain on local schools. Flooding – Balcarres St, Meadowspot and Craighouse Rd: there are questions about the potential for increased flood-risk from extra car-parks and buildings.

9. Trees and Wildlife: loss of mature trees and removal of woodland which is the habitat of local wildlife and of protected species such as bats and badgers. As a Local Biodiversity Site and Nature Conservation Site, the wildlife should be especially protected.

10. Views and Skyline: The plans spoil the spectacular protected views both into and out of the site with large 5/6 storey blocks overwhelming the existing Grade A listed buildings. The view from Blackford Hill will be spoilt.

11. Precedent. This amount of new-build contravenes the Local Plan and its numerous protections and policies creating a dangerous precedent for Edinburgh’s other historic sites and green spaces.

THE EXTRA MILE     

Please send copies to Community Councils and Councillors and ask them to object. Morningside CC: planning@morningside.org.uk   Craiglockhart CC: idal@ukgateway.net

Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart Councillors:    andrew.burns@edinburgh.gov.uk       gavin.corbett@edinburgh.gov.uk  david.key@edinburgh.gov.uk

Meadows/Morningside Councillors:   melanie.main@edinburgh.gov.uk    sandy.howat@edinburgh.gov.uk   mark.mcinnes@edinburgh.gov.uk     paul.godzik@edinburgh.gov.uk

BUT  REMEMBER – THE KEY THING :  Object to the Planners by email, letter, or online and please make sure the planning department receives your objection by midnight on 4th July 2014. 

Background

Two years ago, Mountgrange (an off-shore Isle of Man Opportunity Fund) and Napier submitted an application for a luxury housing estate on Craighouse – a protected green and historic site on Edinburgh’s seventh hill and which – like Arthur’s Seat and Blackford Hill – is one of only 8 designated Areas of Great Landscape Value in whole Edinburgh area.

The application – called “factually incorrect” and “inaccurate” by the Council, provoked the largest amount of objection letters the planning dept’s ever received for a single housing application. Thousands wrote in and signed a petition to protect this special site. This has had an enormous impact – thank you all who wrote.

However, Mountgrange are a powerful company and last summer we found out their lobbyists were arranging meetings with Scottish Ministers to try and force the scheme through against the protections, the will of local community, our MSP,  MP and local Councillors in the manner of the Trump golfcourse. So far they haven’t succeeded. But it’s very important for the community to give them a clear message we will not stand for this.

Then, for the second Christmas in a row, Mountgrange and Napier submitted their “scheme 2”. But disappointingly failed to reduce the amount of newbuild, simply moved bits of the newbuild around with large apartment blocks replacing terraces. The number of newbuild dwellings, in fact, increased from 89 to 125, the total dwellings (new and old) went from 153 to189 – meaning more pressure on schools, roads, more traffic and more pressure on what is a beautiful protected nature site.  The square footage of the newbuild also increased – to more than all the existing historic buildings put together. They claim the whole scheme would cost about £80million – however their figures show it costs only a quarter of this to convert the listed buildings. This “scheme 2” received so many objections that the planners have been unable to count all of them, but the planners still allowed Mountgrange to submit a “scheme 3”, which is only slightly different.

The latest Scheme 3, removes just one building from the scheme 2 plans. There is still more newbuild than old. There is still a 6-storey tower block at the top and a massive block at the bottom, spoiling all the views. There are still 4 development sites within the woodland. The planners have insisted that this time really is the very last time they can submit a further scheme before going to a decision with the councillors.

The site comprises Grade-A listed buildings in a spectacular wooded and parkland setting and is one of Edinburgh’s beauty spots – heavily protected as: an Area of Great Landscape Value; a Local Nature Conservation Site; and as the setting of unique Grade-A Listed buildings in a Conservation Area. The site has some of the most spectacular views in the whole city. The plans show no respect for these protections.

No one opposes sensitive conversion of the listed buildings but there is no justification for this excessive development. If this is allowed to go through it will be open day on protected sites around our city.

Please help save this beautiful protected site. Thanks so much!