THE few remaining objectors to the plan for a £45 million concert hall in Edinburgh city centre will get just five minutes each to put their case to councillors who will decide on planning permission on Wednesday.
A running order for the Development Management Sub-Committee shows that main objector, Nuveen Real Estate developed the Edinburgh St James project, will get five minutes to state their reasons, the same time as the supporters of the Impact Centre proposals.
Just five letters of objection were received after the developers altered their designs for the centre which will have a 1000 seat concert hall at its core. It was revealed last week that the council’s own planning officials were recommending that planning permission be granted.
Addressing fears that the new building will detract from the area’s World Heritage status, they wrote in a report to councillors: “On balance, and taking its proposed use into consideration, it is considered that the proposed development does not remove or detract from key characteristic components of the conservation area that gives the area its special interest.
“It will contribute to the architectural quality of the area with a contemporary high quality building designed to respond to its historic and modern urban environment.”
The council cannot comment in advance of the committee meeting, but one could source said: “It’s a shoo-in for granting.”
Sir Ewan Brown, chairman of Impact Scotland, said: “We look forward to presenting the case for Edinburgh’s first purpose-built music venue in over 100 years to the committee.
“This is an opportunity for the city to raise its game in terms of cultural infrastructure and provide a world-class venue.”
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