The development brief for that Advocate’s Close area approved on 21 April 2005 identifies the constraints and planning policies supported by the local plan for the Old Town area. We make reference particularly to the policies identified in items 3.1 to 3.5 and draw a direct parallel with the Canongate area. Advocates Close is more built-up and has a greater number of existing listed buildings and less opportunity for new development, but we see no reason why development policy should differ.

“An objective of the plan is to promote the growth of Edinburgh as a focus of cultural, artistic, leisure and entertainment activity of international significance and to guide these activities to locations compatible with residential amenity…the plan also seeks to secure a significant amount of new housing to strengthen the city centre and inner city communities and sustain a wide range of services to meet their needs…the emphasis in redevelopment is on promoting an appropriate mix of activities that contribute to the area’s character and vitality; large single use developments may well be inconsistent with this objective…the plan offers support to business/workshop/studio uses, which are small scale and provided that they are compatible with their surroundings…the council as planning authority will accept change in use and new development proposals in locations where there will be no detrimental effects on existing residential amenity…”

“The World Heritage Site will be actively protected against damage of all kinds particularly that resulting from unsuitable use, unnecessary additions and insensitive change…any development will be viewed as an opportunity to remedy damage to that area and reinstate lost features…”