July 2022

2 NEWS
Planning News
Editorial
LAST YEAR WE used to pay daily attention
to the number of cases of Covid-19, but
now Public Health Scotland only release
figures each week on a Wednesday. The
Scottish Government publishes a
fortnightly State of the Epidemic report
bringing all evidence and data together in
one place. According to recent figures it is
estimated that around one in 20 people in
Scotland now have coronavirus. Even
though regular testing has for most people
largely stopped, the figures are informed by
waste water testing and data such as
hospital admissions.
Sadly, recent shows at The King’s and The
Playhouse where performances of Sunshine
on Leith and Laurel and Hardy had to be
stopped before the end of the run when
members of the cast had Covid.
It is against that uncertain backdrop the
arts sector is bravely planning for August in
Edinburgh from the Jazz & Blues Festival
which begins at the end of this month to
hundreds of Fringe shows all over the city,
the Book and Film festivals and the
Edinburgh International Festival (EIF).
This year the EIF blasts off with a free
show - MACRO - at BT Murrayfield on
5 August. There are 35,000 free tickets on
offer for several shows in a celebration of
the 75th anniversary of the arts festival to
beat all others.
MACRO will include music from Scottish
artists such as Aidan O’Rourke and Brighde
Chaimbeul, singing from the National
Youth Choir of Scotland and physical
theatre performed by Gravity & Other
Myths from Australia.
Plans for Christmas and Hogmanay have
been given the green light as the council
awarded the contracts to Angels Event
Experience and Unique, removing the
winter festivals from Underbelly who ran
both. Following the results of last year’s
consultation, events will be aimed at local
people and will not be as crowded as
before. All part of a new normal, but a
welcome return to the world of the arts.
Phyllis Stephen, Editor
Change of Use has been granted for an
Americana-themed bar and restaurant called
MOJO to open in Rose Street in the shop
presently used by Fopp behind Jenners.
Forth Ports 31 is a new neighbourhood
planned by Forth Ports for a 10 acre site at
Port of Leith. The proposal is to build new
homes, commercial and retail space, hotel and
flexible work and office space with new public
realm on the waterfront. A Proposal of
Application Notice (PAN) was submitted to
the council on 26 May and there is now a
period of pre-application consultation when
members of the public can comment on the
plan. Although the live event has taken place
you can download presentation boards and
give your feedback by 23 July or download the
form and post it back to the developer. https://
harbour31.com 22/02855/PAN/Mixed use
development
Planners have unanimously approved the
redevelopment of Jenners by its owner,
billionaire founder of ASOS the online fashion
outlet, Anders Holch Povlsen. Promises have
been made that this will return the building to
“its former glory” - as a shop on lower levels,
and as a boutique hotel above. The central
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TODAY!
Jenners set for
major revamp
atrium and outside signage will be retained,
but a seventh floor will be added to the more
Letters to the editor
From Rt Rev Derek Browning
MEMBERS OF an Edinburgh
church were moved by the plight of
Ukrainian refugees. Plans to provide
a welcome and accommodation
became increasingly complex
because of regulation and
disappointingly fell through. This
Church had a regular bring-and buy
event and went ahead with that .
The usual second-hand goods and
household odds and ends were
gathered and the Church members
opened their doors, not expecting
many to attend other than the
usual supporters.
The first people through the
doors? A Ukrainian family who had
just settled in Edinburgh who
needed basic household items for
their new home.
Others came later. Another
Edinburgh Church, conscious of an
older population in their area,
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recent part added at the beginning of the 20th
century and a roof bar will be added where
guests can enjoy a view of Princes Street and
the Castle. This is another building which
David Chipperfield Architects have been
brought in to design. The first was the Concert
Hall planned for the other side of St Andrew
Square.(The firm also designed the BBC
headquarters in Glasgow.) The architects said:
“The project builds on the department store’s
heritage and envisages a new combination of
high-end retail and hospitality for Edinburgh.
It seeks to re-establish the architectural quality
of the original 1895 William Hamilton Beattie
building and involves the sensitive restoration
of important surviving features and the
reinstatement of lost original elements.”
Meanwhile Radio Forth have moved out of
their building on Forth Street, moving into
new studios in St James Quarter. Planning
permission has been granted for Forth House
and Playfair House to become self catering
accommodation run by Supercity Aparthotels.
Parking was the thorny issue discussed by
members of the planning committee, although
the current 24 parking spaces will be reduced
to seven, including five electric vehicle
charging points.
wanted to support those who
lived with dementia, and their
carers. A sing-a-long music event
was set up, a gentle exercise class,
a games afternoon, a dementiafriendly
concert.
All of this supplemented by a
weekly coffee morning is now a
bustling, welcoming opportunity for
people of all ages from the
community, and a local hospital, to
gather together in safety and
friendship. Not rocket science, but
little acts of kindness are often well
within everyone’s grasp.
Here is the audacity of hope
that despite everything that’s going
on we can still make a difference
for good.
Rt Rev Browning is minister at
Morningside Parish Church and
former Moderator 2017-18.
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Editor: Phyllis Stephen
Designer: Felipe Perez
Photos: Martin P McAdam
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