In October 2023, Edinburgh Council’s Development Management Sub-Committee consented Assembly Festival Ltd’s installation of a Spiegeltent for use as a performance space in St Andrew Square Gardens (23/04199/FUL).
Santa’s Stories was to operate as part of Edinburgh's Christmas 2023.
It would: be erected from 6 November; run from 18 November to 6 January 2024; be gone by 14 January 2024.
For many people who approach it – occasionally and without previous experience or specialist training – the Scottish planning system is an intimidating mystery.
Certainly, some of its fundamental principles – such as the right of appeal for developers but not for objectors – perpetuate a postwar government bias towards rebuilding over conservation.
In Issue 323 we reported Molmoor Waverley Ltd’s application to erect a temporary Festival Village above Waverley Mkt lasting 3 years (22/04639/FUL). In fact, it had already been built.
As highlighted in April's Spurtle, there is widespread public disillusion with how some Council officials and elected representatives seek and respond to public opinion.
We were therefore intrigued to learn about the Our Edinburgh Neighbourhood project, which encourages us to reimagine community consultation.
COUNCIL ADAPTS TO CORONAVIRUS CRISIS