An Edinburgh housing developer has lodged an appeal to the Scottish Government after the council rejected their bid to demolish a historic old cinema and create new flats.
The City of Edinburgh Council rejected the plans to demolish the old cinema on Bath Street on January 14 but the developers Buckley Building UK Ltd lodged the appeal to the Scottish Government on January 18.
The Scottish Government is now appealing to the public to come forward and have their say on the planning application, before the end of the month.
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A spokesperson said: “The appeal has been registered and the planning authority have been asked for their response to the appeal.
"The period for interested members of the public to make representation ends on 25 March 2022 .
“Any representations received by the deadline will be passed to the planning authority and agent/appellant for their comments.”
The existing building was constructed in 1938 as a cinema in the Art Deco style and was awarded a historical C-listed status in 1974.
Buckley Building prepared a planning statement on the application and admitted that they building will lose some of its historical value, despite all their mitigations.
They said: “It is hugely regretful, but none the less remains an irrefutable fact, that the essential structural engineering remedial operations cannot be implemented on this listed building without the wholesale removal of the remaining interior finishes including the period ornamentation which has contributed significantly to the listed status of the property.
“Expert opinion, with access to all relevant scientific and technical data gleaned from extensive intrusive exploratory operations is united on this fundamental principle. There will be unavoidable facilitating works damage to the historic fabric to gain access to the structure of the property, and, by simple implication, this will lead to a diminution of the historic value of the building.”
The Scottish Government is expected to make a decision once the general public have had their say.
