'Back to the drawing board' call over plans for former RBS site in Edinburgh

Fettes Row and Royal Crescent Association (FRRCA) have raised fresh objections to plans which will see a mix of around 350 new homes, offices and public amenities on the former Royal Bank of Scotland site.

The New Town Quarter is one of Edinburgh city centre’s biggest redevelopments.

Campaigners FRRCA claim the 5.9-acre site would remove scores of mature trees as well as encroach on George V Park causing overcrowding, without providing extra green space for new residents.

Property company Ediston, who are delivering the project on behalf of Orion Capital Managers, said trees have to be removed for health and safety reasons.

Ediston revealed changes to the plans in December, including moving the office building further away from Fettes Row reducing massing on the top floor of the northern residential blocks to improve the view from Dundonald Street.

But FRRCA says any development in the New Town Conservation Area should protect mature trees and have issued a plea to developers to go back to the drawing board.

Edinburgh City Council’s Development Management Sub-Committee will hold a hearing on February 17.

Judith Symes, FRRCA chair, said: “At a time when we all need ready access to fresh air and quality green space for our physical and mental well-being, removing trees, and

allowing crowding of our parks and world heritage buildings cannot be right. This ‘overbuilding’ must stop.”

A spokesperson for Historic Environment Scotland (HES) said: “While we haven’t objected to the proposals for the New Town North site, and are broadly content with the form of the development, we consider that there will be some adverse impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage site and on the setting of the Category A listed Royal Crescent.

“In particular, we have asked that the proposed new crescent housing blocks - which will be visible in the framed view from the World Heritage Site down Dundonald Street - are redesigned to help reduce their impact.”

Ross McNulty, Development Director at Ediston said: “Our proposals have involved detailed consultation with the council and the local community over a long period of time, resulting in a development which is fully compliant with planning policy.

"Tree management for the site has been extensively discussed, with several independent reports provided to inform our approach. It should be noted that our proposals include some 68 new trees in addition to investment in the park, though there are trees requiring to be removed for Health & Safety reasons and the trees on Dundas Street would not be capable of remaining in place when the current office is removed due to the existing structure.

“The enjoyment of the park should not be affected and should if anything should be enhanced due to proposed investment which would be agreed with the council.”

He added: “A very important point, which appears to have been forgotten that we have conducted detailed independent overshadowing studies that demonstrate the buildings closest to the park, are not only fully compliant with Council guidelines, but actually improve some existing overshadowing within ​the park.”

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