This alternative strategy has been prepared with regard to the stated objectives of the Central Edinburgh Local Plan (adopted 1997, reviewed 2000) in which the Waverley Development site is restricted to the North side of Market Street and the area of the New Street Bus depot i.e. behind the Canongate; the Old Town is defined as an MAZ with an emphasis on promoting an appropriate mix of activities which contribute to local character and vitality. There is obviously room for debate on what constitutes “appropriate” development, and this debate is what we seek to engender. We draw attention to:

• The summary of conservation and design objectives on page 10, item 2.9 and policies CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD10, CD11, CD15
• Economic development policies ED1/ED2/ED3 “office use and new development will be acceptable…subject to the protection…of existing housing”
• the summary of shopping policy on p 47, item 5.15 particularly the policy to “maintain, support and enhance a satisfactory level of shops and services to meet the daily needs of the resident and working populations”
• the summary of housing policies on p 58 item 6.14 and policies H3, H6, H7
• the summary of leisure and tourism policies on p 68; policies L7. L9 (incl public toilet facilities)
• the summary of policies relating to transport on p 85, item 9.18 esp policy T10

We believe that the Mountgrange proposals for the Caltongate site are in conflict with many of these objectives.