February 15 2007

A major public consultation has begun concerning the future of the St James Shopping Centre in Edinburgh – once dubbed Scotland’s ugliest building.

Edinburgh City Council and building owners Henderson Global Investors have put on a public exhibition at the centre and are handing out 5,000 questionnaires as part of the St James Quarter project – a £200 million plan to transform the east end of Princes Street.

Council leader Ewan Aitken said: “We want to know what people want in terms of moving on to a new public, exciting space where people want to be.”

Proposals include spaces for cafes, bars, shops and flats above the retail areas, as well as walkways linking Leith Walk, Princes Street and St Andrew Square.

The exhibition finishes on the 24th February and any comments must be submitted to the council by March 16th. The development is not expected to be completed until 2015.

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