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Decision due on Charlotte Square revamp

February 21 2012

Decision due on Charlotte Square revamp
Fordell Estates' £4m planning application, to remove street clutter and upgrade the public realm around Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square, looks set to be realised after council officials recommended the proposal be approved.

Designed by Optimised Environments the project would see extra pavement space provided by reducing road width around the New Town set piece to one lane – a deliberate attempt to reverse the growth in vehicle numbers since the sixties.

New walkways will be paved in Scoutmoor Yorkstone with Whinstone steps to match the existing in colour and finish.

It is hoped this will create a more pleasant pedestrian environment, boosting amenity for nearby tenants such as the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

In their design statement Open say: “The design concept looks to re-establish the cohesiveness of Charlotte Square by visually reconnecting the fine surrounding architecture to the centrepiece gardens.

“Analysing and revealing the key historical elements helps to inform how the new structure and definition of the Square between the architecture and the gardens can be created.

“This public space is a new response to a modern context, but it is inspired by the understanding of the historical setting.”

A final decision will be taken on the scheme tomorrow.
Fordell Estates is the largest single owner of properties on the Square - it is seeking financial support from the Council
Fordell Estates is the largest single owner of properties on the Square - it is seeking financial support from the Council
Reproduction lighting columns will be introduced
Reproduction lighting columns will be introduced

9 Comments

D to the R
#1 Posted by D to the R on 21 Feb 2012 at 13:45 PM
This just looks like some new paving ? .... oh and reproduction lighting columns .... that aren't in the image?!
Egbert
#2 Posted by Egbert on 21 Feb 2012 at 14:11 PM
Singularly uninspiring images I must say...
SAvings
#3 Posted by SAvings on 21 Feb 2012 at 14:15 PM
£4,000,000.....I've got a few flagstones lying around, I'll do it for £3.5M.
Marseille
#4 Posted by Marseille on 21 Feb 2012 at 15:52 PM
Looks great.
Bug Janet fae Ibrox
#5 Posted by Bug Janet fae Ibrox on 21 Feb 2012 at 17:06 PM
Hope they clean the stones on the buildings. The soot blackened stone spoils Edinburgh imo.
Big Janet fae Ibrox
#6 Posted by Big Janet fae Ibrox on 21 Feb 2012 at 17:07 PM
^^^^^
Big, not bug.
Sven
#7 Posted by Sven on 21 Feb 2012 at 19:55 PM
Tradition cobblestones, well set(t) would blend in better. This is basically a pedestrianization by removing the last of the car parking spaces. which are needed in the town centre. The square is actually little used and will not be more popular if this odd 'revamp' goes ahead as there is no demand to use the area unlike its sister square, St Andrews.
dotdotdot
#8 Posted by dotdotdot on 22 Feb 2012 at 09:45 AM
Sven- I thought the square was private, no? Its little used because you need a key to get it!
Sven
#9 Posted by Sven on 25 Feb 2012 at 14:47 PM
@#8. The gardens are owned by the properties around the square, but the land around it (roads and pavement) are adopted by Edinburgh Council. There are no shops to attract lots of people and it does not connect to a bus station or a shopping centre or where lots of people live. The west and north sides of the square are hardly used by the public. The city centres needs some car parking spaces and this development will remove even more and that is plain stupid.

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