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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Jamie Grierson

Woman forced to repaint pink front door of listed Edinburgh building

The offending pink door of the New Town property
The offending pink door of the New Town property, which has now been repainted green. Photograph: Sally Anderson/Alamy Live News

A woman has been forced to repaint the pink front door to her listed building in Edinburgh after a protracted battle with local authorities.

Miranda Dickson was told to alter the colour last year after an anonymous complaint was made to City of Edinburgh council. The local authority ruled that the pink door was not “in keeping with the historic character” of the listed building in the city’s New Town area.

Dickson has painted the door green after an attempt to overturn the enforcement notice failed, according to the BBC.

She had painted it pink in December 2021 but nine months later she received an enforcement notice that said she could be fined up to £20,000 if she did not change the colour of the door, which is in a world heritage conservation site.

Dickson, 49, told the BBC: “I don’t understand why it has caused them to be so angry, I can’t understand that emotion about the colour of a door. These homes were built as entertainment spaces. They are incredible spaces and I have leaned into the bones of the rooms to maximise their beauty.

“I have restored all the windows and kept the cornices and mouldings as well as the shutters. I have been much more sympathetic than more modern refits. And I saw a pink door on EastEnders last night, so it really isn’t that weird.”

After losing her appeal against the enforcement notice, Dickson was told she had to change the colour of the door by 20 April. She said she had to apply for planning permission to change it to green at a cost to her of nearly £500.

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