June 19 2008

There will be no public inquiry into the proposed £300 million Caltongate scheme, which has been given the go ahead and will start in the next few months

The scheme has become one of the country's most contentious city-centre developments, and due to be completed by 2013 after being given the green light by the Scottish Government this week.

Heritage organisations, campaign groups and architects had been among the 300 objectors to the development who had expressed fears despite concern about the impact it will have on Edinburgh's historic Old Town.

The London-based developer Mountgrange has proposed to construct a five-star hotel and conference centre; in addition, a 1930s' tenement block in the Royal Mile will be razed to make way for flats, all on the site of the former New Street bus depot.

It has been reported that Edinburgh’s continued status as a World Heritage Site will be under discussion at the Unesco conference in Quebec next month.

A statement from the developers said that "Caltongate offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to significantly improve the fabric and feature of Edinburgh's Old Town."

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