Permission has been granted to demolish the adjoining buildings at 5 Warriston Road and build in their place a 3-storey block of flats (Ref. 14/02315/FUL; Breaking news, 17.6.14).
The new design comprises eight 2-bedroom flats and two 3-bedroom penthouses, with ten underground parking spaces and room there for a similar number of cycle spaces and refuse.
The decision was made because:
The proposal complies with the Development Plan and although there is an infringement to the Council's non-statutory guidelines in respect to the proposed internal floor space, this is considered acceptable and not sufficient to justify refusal. The block of flats is acceptable in terms of scale, design and materials in this location and has an acceptable impact on the setting of Inverleith conservation area which is located to the south and west. The impact on neighbouring amenity is satisfactory and an adequate level of amenity will be provided for future occupiers. There are no transport issues. There are no equalities or human rights issues. There are no other material considerations to outweigh this conclusion.
You can read the full report which supported the decision here.
Large number of objections
Some 77 letters or e-mails of objection were submitted, raising doubts about: design, scale and form; overdevelopment; overshadowing, loss of sunlight and privacy: increased traffic and parking. None of these was considered sufficient to reject the scheme. Spurtle sees the logic for that official response.
We have more sympathy with those who objected to the loss of the landmark, low-rise old building overlooking the Water of Leith. The report noted:
The front of the site is occupied by a single storey stone cottage constructed between c.1750 and 1804. Although undesignated, this building is a rare survival within urban central Edinburgh of an 18th century rural cottage, a building type once common but now almost lost within central Edinburgh as a result of the Georgian and Victorian growth of the city. It is one of the oldest surviving buildings within the local area and represents its former rural past.
However, whilst the report recognised that the building is of local historical interest, and that it makes a contribution to the setting of the conservation area, its failure to be recognised as worth listing by Historic Environment Scotland was significant. The report argued that the proposed development that will now replace the cottage would also preserve the setting of the conservation area.
The New Town & Broughton Community Council, in whose area the proposal falls, made no comment on the application.
Sense of place and moving on
The decision to consent the application will come as a major disappointment to many locals, and highlights once again the gulf between ordinary people’s aspirations and the grinding cogs of the planning system.
And, as seen at Canonmills Bridge over the summer, a comparatively undistinguished building can sometimes represent more to the community in which it sits than it does to the esoterically minded heritage and architectural experts charged with assessing its 'worth'. That locally experienced and valued sense of place appears to have insufficient traction in current regulations shaping decisions about how to manage development.
Looking to the immediate future, we wonder whether those who so fervently argued for the current structure to be retained could now organise its careful dismantlement and re-erection elsewhere along the lines of the Botanic Cottage’s recent flit from Leith Walk to Inverleith. Any takers?
Got a view? Tell us at spurtle@hotmail.co.uk and @theSpurtle and Facebook
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Valerie Goodman what a shame, this is a charming little building -- I've often had a little wonder about what it would be like to live in it when I walk by.
Very sad to read this: A historic traditional cottage in Canonmills to be demolished in favour of modern flats :(
Gary McLean-Quin That really is a backward step. Jeesh.
Kenris MacLeod What a waste! Disgusted.
Jonny Brown Is it not listed?!! If not why not?
Any chance of community-led dismantling and rebuild elsewhere? @tartansilk http://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/end-road-warriston-cottage …
@theSpurtle thats bad news. Its a lovley building and the whole area of canonmills is set to become seriously overdeveloped. @tartansilk
Paul Burgess Disgusting . Why ever wasn't this building listed? Edinburgh is slowly but surely losing its character
Spurtle suggests sense of place has insufficient traction in decisions on development:
Napier Bathrooms & Interiors Ltd. We thought it was listed like our building on the corner! Quite surprising planning really.
Nikki MacLeod Why the hell isn't this cottage listed. There will be nothing of classical Edinburgh left soon.
John Cromb Although I do feel this wee building should be preserved, I also feel that Edinburgh has a chronic housing shortage, but any development which includes penthouses will not be social or affordable homes. Can a buyer other than a developer not be found for this little gem?
Douglas Forrester Great, so I can look forward to a view of a building site from my window over the next few years 
@CityCycling @theSpurtle @STVEdinburgh it is a travesty Planning let this thro. The pretty building on water of leith will go
Bill Dunlop Sad. Apart from the modified mill building at the top end of Canon Street, the cottage is/was the last vestige of pre 19th century Canonmills.
@tartansilk Planning in Edinburgh seems to have lost its way. @theSpurtle @STVEdinburgh
@theSpurtle @tartansilk @CityCycling along with cleansing, roads, transport, budgets, honesty, transparency, accountability.......
Rhona Stewart Cameron who exactly makes these stupid decisions?
Jan Anderson shared a photo to Save 1 - 6 Canonmills Bridge's Timeline.Grrrrr!!!! Creeping corporatisation just round the corner from our own landmark. So very sorry this got through. Channel your outrage into ensuring that 1-6 Canonmills gets to stay and continue to define the character of the neighbourhood…
Rachel Bell 'Creeping corporation' - excellent phrase!
Ross McEwan Its not creeping. It is planned by City Development from the economic committee. Any development is good!!!! At the expense of anything.
Marquis Melrose @MasterMelrose @theSpurtle Why not just blow the whole city up and build some lovely new high rises?
@MasterMelrose @theSpurtle or why not just sack all the "planners"
@CityCycling @theSpurtle @MasterMelrose That is not a mature response.
@GASPurves and all those mature consultation responses really get due consideration, don;t they? @theSpurtle @MasterMelrose
Shelagh McDougall I think this is sad - it's a little reminder of a past life which adds character. I know there's a need for houses but there must be better empty sites.
Paul Bennett What a shame it's unbelievable it's not falling down or in bad repair. Been there since 1750 come on this is a special building leave it alone. Don't destroy your heritage Edinburgh@CityCycling @theSpurtle @STVEdinburgh @LAHinds LAH you should know opposition to planning for getting this thro under radar. Disgusting
Broughton Spurtle @theSpurtle
@tartansilk @LAHinds LAH not to blame. Nor under radar. Arguably, systemic bias favours development/undervalues community sense of place.
@theSpurtle @LAHinds def not blaming LAH She needs to know flawed process!
@CityCycling @theSpurtle @MasterMelrose 1) I think the issue is whether sufficient weight was given to the local interest of the building.
@CityCycling @theSpurtle @MasterMelrose 2) I'm surprised that the Community Council had nothing to say on the matter.
Callum Duff Listing buildings is no guarantee that it will survive. I've seen plenty of listed buildings knocked down by greedy developers or bunged councillors or a runaway lorry has 'accidentally' backed into said building in a large truck. Would the Cockburn Association be interested?
Eleane Tweedly When I lived in California I used to get so fed up with people saying how much they envied us our history over here in Scotland. I did on one occasion suggest that perhaps if they didn't knock everything down as soon as it got to be 50 years old, they might have some, too. But now it seems that at least Edinburgh council is set on removing the cause of their envy!