Dear Spurtle,
I write to highlight a common problem associated with New Town development which places historic buildings at risk.
I live next door to an A-listed property which is currently being upgraded by a commercial developer. I have always supported and appreciated that company’s choice to improve these run-down buildings, which for many years have been a scar on the streetscape.
I recently enquired about the basements here, as I discovered that the developer plans to render and paint them white. Council guidelines (pp. 9–11) strongly advise against this practice, and if caught early enough owners should repair what they have done.
The danger is that after several years, painting exterior basement walls in this way becomes ‘like for like’ and – unofficially, at least – is deemed to have created a precedent which provokes neither comment nor complaint.
These Georgian buildings are a World Heritage resource, not a bungalow or suburban semi. Original and authentic finishes must and should be reinstated, not overlain by what has mistakenly been applied in the years since. We do this important, artistic urban scheme a shameful disservice if we don’t stick to our principles.
On my street, the developer responded (accurately) by stating that all planning proposals had been approved, but I still feel that such ‘whitewashing’ destroys the mass and integrity of the New Town. It looks cheap and squalid.
Will anyone support my points? Where do the New Town & Broughton Community Council, Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, Cockburn Association and Edinburgh World Heritage stand on this issue? Did any of them comment on the original application?
Mike Worobec
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