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Sunday, 22nd November 2009

Edinburgh International Conference Centre expansion bid hanging in balance

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Published Date: 29 October 2009
By Adam Morris
A BID to expand the city's main conference facility is hanging in the balance after councillors refused to back the controversial £85 million scheme.
Plans to extend to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) were criticised before members of the planning committee decided to delay a decision.

Some compared the proposal to "a 1960s polytechnic" while others said the architecture s
hould be of a far higher quality given the importance of the site.

It had been expected the submission would be approved after council officials gave it their backing in a recent report.

Instead, some councillors yesterday moved to throw out the plans.

It was eventually decided to delay a decision to visit the site and investigate what could be done to improve the appearance.

It is understood that unless the plans for the office part of the development change significantly, it will not win approval.

SNP councillor Colin Keir said: "My heart absolutely sinks when I see plans like this. It is the best example of a lack of imagination I have seen in a long time. These images remind me of a 1960s polytechnic and it could be so much more."

Conservative city centre Councillor Joanna Mowat added: "I'm completely dissatisfied by this full stop. It is going to be the most prominent building on the site but this really disappoints me."

The highest-profile critic of the expansion is Sir Terry Farrell, the original masterplan architect of the EICC, who said it showed "insensitive disregard" for the adjacent building.

Heritage groups in the Capital have also slammed the proposed structure, while concerns were raised about the huge shadow cast on Festival Square by such a big building

The removal of trees from Morrison Street to accommodate the scheme was also called into question.

An EICC spokesman said: "We are confident that we have an excellent design for our additional function space and associated office development and look forward to resolving any remaining design issues from elected members prior to taking the proposals back to the next available planning committee meeting."

Links

www.edinburgh.gov.uk

www.eicc.co.uk





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  • Last Updated: 29 October 2009 1:44 PM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Architecture
 
1

Seb,

29/10/2009 12:14:16
Has the Morrison Street result chastened the Planning Committee so quickly?!
2

Randan,

29/10/2009 12:41:58
So they're happy to left 17 storey monstrosities through, but not this thing?
3

Buttress,

29/10/2009 12:47:28
I think that yes, a number of things have begun to make them see the error of their ways; sadly, not before the city got such gems in recent times as the Missoni and the plans have been passed for the Cowgate fire site - described by Mowatt, ignoring informed comments by the World Heritage Trust etc, as ' a bonny addition to the city centre...

Truly they have no idea.

4

Jack Daniels,

29/10/2009 12:51:58
#2 - exactly what I was gonna say!

CEC Councillors know hee haw about design.
5

alfonsa pedrosa,

embra 29/10/2009 13:03:07
Flatten it and build a 5 star hotel,we are very short of them.
6

Think Tank,

29/10/2009 13:15:05
#5 the funniest thing about your statement is that it's absolutely true- we are short of 5 star hotels in the city. The fact that your comment was designed to raise an "ironic giggle" amongst the majority of ill informed readers shows how little you (and they) understand.
7

Sparts,

29/10/2009 14:04:36
#6 We're short of a lot of things which are far more important than another 5 star hotel.
Oh yes, and do you have any friends?

Glad this has been knocked back. The design team should take a look at the surrounding buildings (ex Scottish Widows) for inspiration. The new SWIP project I think is very easy on the eye.
8

dba,

Edinburgh 29/10/2009 14:48:43
Given that the City is forecasting a 247 MILLION POUND budget deficit over the next three years AND the fact that TWO separate commercial funders WITHDREW from the project....WHAT'S THE RUSH?
WHY are the city Council even thinking of co-funding this project?
Should not the funds go to reduce the deficit and any anticipated rates rise?
EICC is supposed to be a COMMERCIAL operation - fine - let THEM find funding, at commercial rates in the commercial market and NOT ask the Council for a penny!
The first items to be rigorously examined in any budget for this project MUST be the size, scale, responsibility and accountability required of all and any Architects receiving ANY form of benefice from the project. Both constructors AND architects MUST BE REQUIRED TO LODGE COMPLETION BONDS AND A FIXED PRICE , FIXED TERM CONTRACT ISSUED...that should sort the chances of any over-run such as in the Usher Hall...14 years work in prgress and STILL not finished!
9

Jams,

Edinburgh 30/10/2009 08:15:15
Could the planners be scared of upsetting Sir Terry ??? - Surely not!!!

Perhaps they are waiting for the end of his term as "Design Tsar" so that they are not seen to be contradicting the advice of the man they appointed. Of course his judgement may be clouded by the fact that a) he designed the original and b) his firm failed to get appointed for the extension.

 

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