Caltongate Hokey Cokey

Well you just could not make it up, you just couldn't.  After saying just last week "we've got a buyer - honestly, we really have", it turns out the council are looking at renting out their work/office space at Canongate Venture and their empty flats in the Canongate!  It's Caltongate Christmas Hokey Cokey - the council are "in - out - shake it all about - you do the hokey cokey then you turn around, that's what it's all about -see!"

Check out tonight's story in the Evening News here


However questions still need to be asked, why then last month did council high heid yins tell Old Town residents that the tenement flats were not loosing any money because they were on a "void account"?

Mr Lowrie's nose will be getting bigger - the council still owns the majority of the land, the buildings and the homes, they do not belong to the administrators.  They hope that voiding them will make the Bank of Scotland's gap site more attractive to a developer, and that is what DeLoitte the administrator hope too i.e. look at all the viable land/buildings around the gap site, what a lovely opportunity.


The council should admit that they made a terrible mistake to be taken in my confidence tricksters against the community and conservationists who tried every trick in the book to tell them that Caltongate was a dystopia and a con.



With hundreds of thousands of pounds spent every month on putting homeless people in bed and breakfast accommodation - putting the flats back into use even as temporary accommodation will be welcomed. Though in the longer term the Republic would like to see secure tenures in the Macrae tenements.

Answers from Council on Calton Hill

If you want information from the City of Edinburgh Council don't bother with an FOI, just get Brian Ferguson of the Scotsman to write a misleading article, see yesterday's post.

Remember it takes around 3 months with an FOI, remember when they were asked about the council homes they cleared on Caltongate developer Manish Chande's behalf...which they never got the rent for, now thats a scandal

FOI on Tenements at what do they know

Hill to stay open - letter in today's Scotsman

The claim of your report "Public faces Calton Hill ban at night in bid to cut crime" (15 September) is misleading. While Edinburgh council is drawing up plans for Calton Hill to preserve and protect the area for the enjoyment of residents and visitors, these do not include any proposal that it should be shut at night.

We are looking at ways to deal with antisocial behaviour and vandalism, and the closure of Carriage Drive to all vehicles earlier this summer has already contributed to a significant reduction in these problems, as well as ensuring pedestrian safety.
We want to promote the hill as a safe and well-maintained public space, making it cleaner, safer and more attractive, and it is simply not true that the council intends to restrict night-time access . CLLR ROBERT ALDRIDGE Environment leader City of Edinburgh Council

RMJM's Gazprom Tower in St Petersburg

RMJM's Gazprom Tower in St Petersburg

Sad news from St Petersburg, read the full story here on what is a great blog for keeping up to date with people and buildings under threat from the monster they call progress.

Below you can read this skewed justification by Tony Kettle of RMJM the article appears here in Architects Journal

UNESCO should realise that special sites require a special architectural response, says Kettle

I have been pretty clear in the past about my views on UNESCO’s intervention in RMJM’s Okhta Centre project for Gazprom in St Petersburg, Russia. The plans we have drawn up are for one of the world’s tallest buildings in one of the world’s most horizontal cities, where only special buildings are allowed to break the grain.

These special buildings include 30 churches, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Admiralty and the TV tower (which is the height of the Eiffel Tower). Each is special in its own right. A city needs a hierarchy of buildings so that the ordinary and the special work with each other. If every building attempts to be special, then they will all become ordinary; so there needs to be a good reason for a building to be out of the ordinary.

The issue of energy is the central concern of our time and Gazprom, as the largest supplier of energy in eastern Europe, is one of the reasons for Russia’s wealth and rebirth, putting it into the ‘special’ category.

The Okhta Tower must symbolise rebirth for Russia and the city of St Petersburg, while demonstrating that an innovative, low-energy building is possible in the extremes of the Russian climate. UNESCO has never disputed the quality of the design, nor the fact that the tower sits some 6km from the historical centre. But it feels it cannot allow one project to break the city’s height limits, potentially opening the gates to a ‘free-for-all’ of new development in the city. In this case, there is no latitude in its thinking, no allowance made for creation of the ‘special’.

Back in my home town of Edinburgh, UNESCO has reviewed proposals that have already been approved and has expressed concern over two in particular, which have the potential to change the city. The sites fall into two categories, the ‘ordinary’ and the ‘special’.

The ‘ordinary’ is Caltongate, a scheme which builds on the urban grain of the past. It does what any good urban design should: it repairs, it removes the bad,

Macrae tenements on the Canongate that are to be demolished

replaces with the good

Malcolm Fraser's brave new world for Jeffrey St

and creates new spaces that will benefit the city.

Caltongate's mostly in shadow for the day wind tunnel

There is not much to argue about as it is an obvious solution, which will improve a sadly neglected part of the city.

Richard Murphy's Haymarket Tower

The ‘special’ is the Haymarket site, a location which marks the entrance to the historical city centre. This is indeed a site for a gateway building, one which will give a sense of arrival. The proposal is for a 17-storey slab block containing a hotel in a form which tries to be special.

But its use, size and commercial drivers do not allow the building to be other than ordinary. UNESCO has criticised its height and suggested a buffer zone be created to stop new development close to the city centre. Surely it should have been recognised that a special site requires a special response?

The fundamental issue is not about banning all development because it is new, but instead asking whether developments really celebrate place and realise the full potential of each individual site.

Tony Kettle is group design director of RMJM
comment@architectsjournal.co.uk

Mountgrange owes £18,000 in Rent

Mountgrange`s Manish Chande and his spin doctor Mark Cummings legging it from Edinburgh, leaving behind them debts including £18,000 in council house rent arrears....

Remember how through an FOI we in the republic found out that Mountgrange were renting the council houses see here

Caltongate failure set to free up condemned flats for rent

Full Piece here 16 May 2009

"UNDER-THREAT council houses on the Canongate are set to be reused after the collapse of the Caltongate scheme.

Developer Mountgrange Capital was meant to be meeting the cost of the rent while the flats laid empty but council chiefs today admitted they failed to collect a single penny before Mountgrange went into administration in March.

The outstanding rent is thought to be around £18,000, with officials admitting they are not sure how they will recover that money.

Council chiefs said they intend to assess the flats to see what it would take to bring the properties up to a condition fit for rent.

The nine council flats were due to be bulldozed or partially demolished as part of the Caltongate project, which was sunk when Mountgrange's bankers pulled the plug.

A further nine private flats at 227-229 Canongate have been bought up by Mountgrange over the last two years and are now in the hands of the administrator Deloitte.

Campaigners today welcomed the chance of getting people back into the empty properties, particular in light of the city's affordable housing crisis.The Macrae Tenements on the Canongate, which are lying empty and have lost the city thousands in rent

Julie Logan, spokeswoman for the Save Our Old Town campaign group, said: "We are really pleased that the council has finally seen the sense of the recommendation that we made in our Canongate project report.

"There should not be a lot to do to these flats because a lot of them have had new doors and glazing, and also modernised inside in recent years.

"It will be good to get people into these homes, even on a temporary basis, and then start to have a proper look at what can be done with the area longer-term."

City leaders are trying to find firms to take on the gap site but it is thought it could be years before work gets underway.

A council spokeswoman said, "The council is considering options for bringing the nine flats back into temporary use until the future of the Caltongate development is known.

"A number of considerations need to be taken into account including the cost of bringing these properties up to rentable condition, and the timescale in which the new development is due to begin. If this proves to be feasible and cost effective, then bringing these properties back into use is a real possibility."

She added: "One of the terms Mountgrange had provisionally agreed to was they would cover the rent loss associated with the empty Council properties.

"However, as discussions are ongoing with the administrators, we are not in a position to say how this will money will be recovered.""

What now for New Street?

An inner city allotment idea, perhaps a possible part of the temporary solution for New Street see more here

The following piece by Ian Fraser in The Sunday Times 10 May 09 in which he is calling on the council to listen to the community and

"Let imagination grow

Edinburgh city council ought to become more imaginative. Owing to new-found caution at Lloyds Banking Group, there is now a massive hole-in-the-ground in the heart of the old town where Mountgrange had been hoping to erect its hugely unpopular Caltongate development.

According to property experts this is likely to remain a vacant site for at least the next three to four years.

So perhaps councillors should listen to local residents who have suggested that the cleared former bus garage should be turned into an adventure playground and allotments for Edinburgh’s younger generation — at least until administrator Deloitte manages to sell on the site. After all, play is a human right too."

Article here 4th May 09 in Eve News on suggestions for city gap site

Letter here to Evening News 7th May suggesting a playground for site

Below an inner city community playground, ideas from London Here

But of course the ideas for the site are endless, and in the meantime lets get pressure on the council to get tenants back into the cleared flats, has Manish Chande stopped paying the rent?

and lets get people back into the Canongate Venture and the Former veg market back into use. Lets get them maintaining our public spaces and buildings, not allow them to fall into disrepair because Mountgrange used to playing Bingo promised them the jackpot..

Mountgrange say no funding in place for Caltongate

latest Mountgrange publicity photo

"A spokesman for the Caltongate development said that it might be harder to raise funding for the residential element of the project in the current climate. "

This appears in todays Sunday Herald in which it tells -

"THE £50 million extension to Dundee's premier shopping centre faces delays of up to three years as the economic crisis takes its toll on retailers."

Oops do Mountgrange really think they can get away with knocking down our homes and heritage to build a 5 star hotel for dwindling wealthy tourist numbers and offices for non existent businesses? No we don`t think so either, they just want to knock it all down and sell the land on when economy picks up. So yes, we would have a gap site for over a decade if this was to be allowed to happen.

Caltongate not to happen?

Above a blast from the past in 2006, with our Canongate Coo in front of the Macrae tenements emptied for greedy property developer`s Mountgrange, who planted perspex cows all over the city with their name on it for the Cow Parade that year.

Word on the street is that the council are re-populating the empty council tenancies that they emptied on behalf on Mountgrange, so they could knock them down for their French run Accor Caltongate luxury 5 star hotel.

But now in these uncertain global economic times, it looks like they are listening to folk like us and housing the citys`s residents, which is their first priority, instead of pandering to London resident Manish Chande demands.

The council have still not answered a FOI request from October on the council tenancies at 221 and 227 Canongate. See Here

See SOOT`s 2008`s Hogmanay Protest outside empty homes

I tell you what we need!

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall stares lovingly at his hen

After watching repeats of that curly hared man I always forget - Hugh Thingy Me Bob and saying "oh if Caltongate goes ahead I might as well go and grow jureseleum artichokes and look after chickens - I've had enoug of this city!"

I then thought about the ugly gap site on New Street and I think if it is not developed by the summer we need to put planning permission in to make it into gardens and allotments, I know its north facing but with the help of some polytunnels I think we could have a wee enterprise to rival River Cottage. Read more about allotments here

After all hundreds of years ago the north and south back of the Canongate were the market gardens of Edinburgh.An allotment -much more useful than a 5 star hotel, sustainable too.

Macrae tenements lying empty when there is homelessness in Edinburgh (to be demolished to make way for the 5 star hotel).

Lets do that - lets put something useful there so we don't have a big dirty hole and whilst we are at it we should demand the council opens up the council housing that is going to rack and ruin at the Macrae tenements, at approx £230 a month rent and £120 council tax a month, the council is missing out on £400 a month per flat - there's nine empty ones so that's £3,600 every month, that's just short of £40,000 a year - so much for homelessness and the credit crunch!

Check out the council's choice base letting system, here - if my maths is right there have been 8 council houses in the past year up for let from the council and 3704 people/families have bidded for them yet 9 lie empty on the Canongate alone - check the figures out for yourself - here.

Yet Caltongate scheme will demolish these 9 flats replace them with 6 council flats and 6 more "affordable housing units" at Cranston Street (where the suspected common good land is, which legally belongs to the people and not the council).

So Caltongate is bringing an addition 3 "affordable "housing units", however to get these 3 extra "housing units" we have to have 9 empty houses for months and months - soon getting into years. Is it me or is this just plan daft and uneconomical?

Recession Proof Caltongate

Caltongate is recession proof, so much so it is going to be "Depression" themed. Most of the building`s facades to be retained are from the 1930`s.

The Old Sailor's Ark, funded by a benefactor to house sailors in need built 1936 by architects Tarbolton & Ochterlony.

This will be home to "Let Them Eat Cake" a soup kitchen themed restaurant in the French Hotel Group Accor`s Five Star Caltongate hotel. The hotel is rumoured to be having an overall French nautical and "1930`s styling throughout.

The Macrae Tenements part of the hotel were built during the 1930`s to house the ordinary working person. Rooms will pay homage to the previous council tenants, aptly named and with a small plaque telling guests about who slept there in the past.

The Victorian school building known as The Canongate Venture is to be completely demolished for the hotel`s conference centre.

A source close to the project said - it is only right that we pay our respects to the poor and needy children who must have benefited from this sandstone school board building by (Robert Wilson 1901)

Neither are we forgetting the many businesses that have been tenants in its final use as a small business start up venture, provided by the council.

Perhaps Canongate Books and Birlinn press can help with ideas, but one so far is having quirky Girls and Boys entrance doors to the building.

The source added that lip service will be paid to the Patrick Geddes guy, perhaps the roof terraces on the conference centre, will be named after him, as after all he encouraged the poor folk of the Old Town to garden, didn`t he?

Save Our Old Town latest

Mountgrange`s Manish Chande, London Developer pulling a Brave Heart Cow through Princes Street Gardens when he arrived in the capital

So we`ve been Trumped! The ministers are so busy with Balmedie they have taken their eyes off the even bigger ball here in the shadow of the Scottish Parliament and their offices at St Andrews House. Do not despair it is not over, come to the Street Party and see what The Canongate Project findings are so far....the real exciting work will begin once the credit crunch has banished the Carpetbaggers Mountgrange from the city for once and for all.

Street Party Saturday 28th June 2008
11am - 4pm
East Market Street
see www.eh8.org.uk for more

Prince Charles and World Heritage Talk Tonight

Free Talk on Edinburgh`s World Heritage Status Tonight Friday 6th June 6pm - 7.30pm at 8 St Mary`s Street, just off the Royal Mile

See Map Contact us on 07788 755303

Talk and discussion with Jane Jackson and David Hicks of The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust. What does World Heritage Status mean to Edinburgh and her residents? http://www.ewht.co.uk/

Charles in building projects appeal - Prince Charles in Edinburgh yesterday

The Prince of Wales has called for architects to put beauty at the heart of building projects to create long-lasting communities.

The Malcolm Fraser Building proposed for Jeffrey St as part of Caltongate, above is view of it along East Market Street

He shared his thoughts with an audience - including Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond - at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on how nature should play a central role.
Evoking the World Heritage status of Scotland's capital, Charles, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, said: "Beauty is surely, when you think about it carefully, at the heart of genuine sustainability.

"If something is beautiful you don't want to knock it down."

Above is from top are the beautiful buildings to be knocked down for Caltongate, The Victorian School known as Canongate Venture, The Sailor`s Ark , unique Art Deco and 1930`s Macrae Tenements.

He said Scottish planners could take a leading role in the UK to build ecologically-sound communities - but warned that attitudes must change.

"We live on a very small island on which presumably many generations will want to live," he said.

"So apart from everything else, we need to work out where the water is going to come from in an increasingly uncertain world. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren not to wreck it all."

Charles called for a return to "civil, courteous and well-mannered" architecture and added: "We must rediscover - rapidly - our respect for nature and her universal principles that can give us everlasting inspiration and environmental hope."

He delivered his speech following a presentation by Mr Salmond, MSP for Gordon and MP for Banff and Buchan, at the seminar hosted by the Prince's Foundation. The foundation has contributed to the design of 50 developments during its 10-year history in the UK and overseas.
These include projects at Ballater in Aberdeenshire, Cumnock in Ayrshire, Lincoln city centre, the urban extension of Plymouth, the new town of Coed Darcy on the former BP oil refinery in South Wales and the regeneration of a strife-torn neighbourhood in Kingston, Jamaica.
The Press Association

Brunel Building Saved from demolition

A pumping station from an innovative railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel has been listed Grade II after a campaign to save it from demolition championed by Jeremy Clarkson.
Dairy Crest to demolish Brunel pumping station
The "Top Gear" presenter, whose advocacy of the engineer won him a close second to Sir Winston Churchill in the BBC's Great Britons series, got involved after the company Dairy Crest proposed to level the building in Totnes, Devon, for a housing development.

A rare survival of a building designed by the great engineer, the pumping house was to have provided the power for Brunel's South Devon Atmospheric Railway. Trains drawn along by a piston in a tube laid between the rails.

The listing means that Dairy Crest will have to apply to the local authority for permission to demolish, if that remains their intention.

Conservationists applauded Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary, for deciding to list the building against the advice of English Heritage.

Adam Wilkinson, secretary of SAVE Britain's heritage, said: "The Secretary of State has clearly seen sense and listed a rare survival from one of the more exotic chapters of our industrial, architectural and transport history.
"Dairy Crest must now see the value of this building and work with the people of Totnes to come up with a scheme which makes use of Brunel's pumping station."

Full article here Telegraph Article

What You Can Do To Save The Buildings Below
Art Deco The Sailors Ark

Former Victorian School Canongate Venture

1930`s Macrae Tenements

find out more at www.eh8.org.uk

Another Application Rubber Stamped

Today the "revised" Macrae Tenements Application goes before the Development Management Sub-Committee of the Planning Committee Wednesday, 5 March 2008 at 10.00 a.m.

Well there is no point in making comments to this committee, as they do not listen. But at the Public Inquiry they will.

Full Planning Application
New Street I 221 -223 Canongate (land adjacent to - PA4A) - Erect
buildings for residential and business (Class 4) and/or community
facility, retail (Classl) and/or food and drink (Class 3) purposes.
Podium structure (including ground source heating and cooling
system), car parking, access, open space and landscaping including
public square and pend / arcade route off Canongate, works to south
end of New Street, and associated works (07/044OO/FUL) - report by
the Director of City Development (circulated)
It is recommended that this application be GRANTED.

Conservation Area Consent

221 - 225 Canongate - Demolish buildings with part retained facade
(as amended) (07/01299/CON) - report by the Director of City
Development (circulated)

It is recommended that the Sub-committee NOTE THAT CONSENT IS
NOT REQUIRED.

Our campaign today is in Newham , London, Friends of Queens Market

Queen's Market, Upton Park is a thriving and profitable covered street market. Situated in the East End it has been in existence for over a century and is the heart of a vibrant community that draws in people from across London and beyond. Famed for its affordable and culturally appropriate produce, it is much more than just a market, it is a living information exchange and a communal space. Queen's Market is an important centre of employment as well as bringing millions of pounds into the local economy. It exudes entrepreneurial spirit, tolerance and good humour. Little wonder then that Londoners love it. Sadly, it is now under direct threat due to the arrogance and irresponsibility of Newham Council.

The campaigners have a constructive vision of the future of the market, one that sees a full appreciation of its unique character and that makes the most of its potential. Such has been the success of their campaign that Asda-WalMart have pulled out of the hugely controversial Wales/St Modwen scheme. Their campaign is growing all the time and they are determined to expand it to save Queen's Market and the Queens' pub from the rapacious clutches of property developer - St. Modwen Properties Plc