Indeed Flex is committed to fair working practices, offering seasonal staff ownership, control and choice over where, when and how they work.
The Edinburgh Fringe is delighted to welcome Indeed Flex as a new sponsor for 2024.
Building on the success of international employment website Indeed, Indeed Flex is geared towards people looking for temporary work – such as the front of house and hospitality roles that form such a vital part of the Edinburgh festivals workforce – and shares Edinburgh Fringe’s commitment to fair working practises.
The partnership aims to raise awareness of Indeed Flex and help businesses across Edinburgh fill their temporary positions this summer, particularly during the busy Fringe period when demand for staffing soars.
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “As stated in our development goals, the Fringe Society is committed to fair work at the festival, and we’re excited to have found a partner that shares those values while providing essential tools to help seasonal staff find the job that best suits their needs. Edinburgh’s festivals would not be possible without the hard work of an army of dedicated staff and volunteers, and we’re pleased to work with partners who make the process of finding a job easier and better for Fringe workers.”
Sarah Peck, UK Country Manager at Indeed Flex, said: “By giving jobseekers ownership, control and choice over where, when and how they work, Indeed Flex delivers an engaged and consistent workforce for our clients. Our expertly engineered tech provides Edinburgh businesses with direct access to an ever-growing marketplace of talented, pre-verified workers, while smart-matching ensures the right job fits for both parties to support during their busiest time of year.”
To find out more about Indeed Flex, see vimeo.com/913324330 or visit indeedflex.co.uk.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh proudly announces the launch of its groundbreaking Artist in Residence initiative, a unique programme that is dedicated to supporting the city’s vibrant creative community.
As part of the initiative, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is issuing an open call for emerging artists within the Edinburgh art scene, giving them the opportunity to apply for the use of free workspaces and showcasing opportunities within the iconic Old Town Hotel.
During the three-month artist vacancy, the successful artist will have access to the Hotel’s stunning Unicorn Room – a purpose built creative studio with sprawling views across the city. Positioned within the old India Buildings turret of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, the room offers a unique workspace complete with a hand painted, one of a kind mural by Studio Giftig, providing the perfect creative inspiration.
First to be awarded the Artist in Residence top spot is current Virgin Hotels Edinburgh employee, Charlie Yates, a budding local artist who graduated from The Glasgow School of Art in 2019. Since graduation he has received acclaim for various projects, including a feature in ‘The Times’ for his substantial solo exhibition at the Watermill Gallery. Taking inspiration from his Scottish heritage and vintage mementos, Charlie is able to capture the essence of a moment in his work, mirroring the sense of adventure and discovery that Virgin Hotels Edinburgh aims to provide to its guests.
The initiative also provides artists with a free gallery space to display and sell their work, with all proceeds going directly to the creatives. Displayed on the staircase leading up to the Hotel’s stunning Oculus lounge, the artwork can be admired by guests and locals alike.
In addition to being one of the main focal points at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, the Oculus is also home to the Hotel’s newly launched Afternoon Tea experience and guests booked in at the weekend would have the opportunity to meet the Artist in Residence, visit their studio and learn about their creative process. Hotel residents will also have the chance to book a private tour of the Unicorn Room creative studio, providing an inside look into the unique space and unbeatable views.
Mafalda Albuquerque, General Manager at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, said: “The Virgin brand was developed from the desire to give a platform to incredible artists, and this is something we want to echo at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh.
“Our Artist in Residence initiative is something new that we’re bringing to the city, and we’re so pleased to welcome Charlie Yates to our incredible Unicorn Room and see the artistic process first hand from the studio upstairs. This partnership will also offer something new for our guests as they get the chance to not only browse his incredible artwork but talk to him personally about the inspiration behind it.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming more local artists to the studio this year and seeing their work displayed on the staircase leading up to the Oculus lounge. For any artist who would like to work with us and have your work displayed in the Hotel, I’d encourage you to apply.”
Charlie Yates, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh employee and current Artist in Residence, said: “My first experience of working as the Artist in Residence has been incredible. I’ve had the opportunity to work from one of the best locations in Edinburgh and now have my first round of work on display for guests to see within the Hotel.
“I look forward to the remainder of the residency with Virgin Hotels Edinburgh to create a collection that speaks to such an exciting, iconic brand and enhances the overall experience of the guests who visit.”
Applications are now open for aspiring artists that would like to be considered for Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s Artist in Residence initiative. For more information please email: artist.inresidence@virginhotels.com.
For reservations for Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s exquisite Afternoon Tea in the stunning Oculus lounge, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/afternoon-tea-in-the-oculus-virgin-hotels-edinburgh-tickets-857917292717
Follow along with Virgin Hotels Edinburgh on social media here: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
The firm’s Corporate and M&A team has advised leading multinational utility company ENGIE as it strengthens its presence in the UK biomethane market
Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has advised ENGIE, the French multinational utility company committed to accelerating the transition towards a carbon-neutral world, on its acquisition of the award-winning and innovative Rainbarrow Farm, a facility with anaerobic digestion (AD) capabilities and the process through which biomethane is created. With an annual operational capacity of 57 GWh, the Rainbarrow Farm has been providing renewable energy to local communities and businesses in Dorchester and across Dorset and is a perfect example of how a circular economy can be created through biomethane.
The acquisition adds to ENGIE’s growing portfolio of AD plants in the UK and supports its ambitions in the renewable gas industry. This is the company’s second UK-based biogas acquisition completed by Burges Salmon in the space of six months, following the £64.8 million acquisition of Ixora Energy Ltd in September 2023.
The Burges Salmon team advising on the transaction was, once again, led by Edinburgh-based partner Danny Lee and associate Nikoletta Zinonos from the firm’s Corporate and M&A group, with support from Euan Bremner, Shalini Sykes and Claire Batty (Real Estate) and Nick Churchward and Greg Fearn (Projects).
Danny Lee comments: “It has been a pleasure working again with ENGIE as it completes its second UK-based biomethane acquisition in the space of only a few months, accelerating its development in the fast-growing UK market and consolidating its renewable gas portfolio. Both acquisitions signal an attractiveness in the market for clean biogas as an important natural resource to decarbonise parts of the energy system that low-carbon electricity alone cannot reach.”
Stuart Rennie, Managing Director of ENGIE Renewable Gases UK, a subsidiary of the ENGIE group, adds: “This acquisition is another important step in the expansion of our renewable gas portfolio in the fast-growing UK market. Rainbarrow Farm AD is providing the community with much-needed renewable energy, and is contributing to the country’s energy transition and its energy sovereignty. Having worked with Burges Salmon on our acquisition of Ixora Energy, we were impressed by the firm’s excellent understanding of the biogas market and the team’s ability to spot, manage and resolve complex issues quickly. We’re grateful for their support and guidance as we pursue our expansion plans in the UK and across Europe.”
Burges Salmon’s leading Corporate practice advises domestic and international clients, particularly in the energy, healthcare, life sciences, technology and financial services sectors. The firm has over 20 years’ experience advising on renewable energy projects and is widely regarded as one of the sector’s leading firms.
Jodie Fraser photographed by Jonathan Bowcott
In a bid to spotlight the voices of extraordinary women from across the globe, Women’s Business Club has launched the eagerly anticipated Top 10 Voices competition. Aimed at providing a platform for women to share their unique journeys and insights, this initiative promises to amplify diverse perspectives and inspire audiences worldwide.
The competition invites women from all walks of life to submit a compelling 250-word pitch explaining why they or their nominee should be featured. With the promise of reaching thousands of listeners through dedicated podcast episodes and digital magazine spotlights, the Top 10 Voices competition offers participants an unparalleled opportunity to elevate their stories on a global stage.
“We firmly believe that every woman possesses a distinctive voice and perspective worthy of recognition,” emphasised Angela De Souza, CEO of the Women’s Business Club. “With this competition, our goal is to celebrate the triumphs of women entrepreneurs and leaders, igniting inspiration among the upcoming generation of female trailblazers. It’s not about spotlighting celebrities or echoing media trends; rather, it’s about uncovering the remarkable achievements of women who may not yet be in the limelight but are making significant contributions within their communities.”
The Top 10 Voices competition not only seeks to showcase the talent and resilience of women but also aims to foster connections within the business community. Participants stand to expand their networks by connecting with like-minded professionals, mentors, and influencers in their respective fields.
As the deadline for submissions approaches, anticipation builds among women eager to make their mark and inspire others. With recognition and awards awaiting the chosen Top 10 Voices, the competition promises to be a catalyst for empowerment and positive change in the business world.
The prize package for the Top 10 Voices includes:
- Featured in the Women’s Business Voice Podcast episodes with a wide audience reach.
- Highlighted in the Women’s Business Magazine, sharing their story with a broader audience.
- Exclusive badges and certificates recognising their achievement as one of the Top 10 Voices.
For more information on how to enter the Top 10 Voices competition, visit the Women’s Business Club website at https://news.womensbusiness.club/top10-voices
Stay tuned for updates as Women’s Business Voice continues to empower women to share their stories and make a difference in the world.
Three stores closed each day in Scotland in 2023, with two new stores opening, according to the latest data from PwC and The Local Data Company (LDC) – resulting in net closures of one store per day.
The bi-annual research tracks over 200,000 outlets in over 3,500 locations to gain a picture of the changing landscape of high streets, retail parks, shopping centres and stand alone outlets.
Throughout 2023, 1,069 stores north of the border closed their doors, while 732 were opened – resulting in a net loss of 337 shops and outlets belonging to multiples and chains (those with five or more outlets).
With the overall reduction at -2.1%, Scotland’s closure rate in 2023 is around one third higher than the 2022 rate of -1.4%, but remains lower than the period between 2017 and 2021 (when closures peaked at a rate of -4.1% in 2021) during a difficult period for retailers. It is also marginally lower than the Great Britain average of -2.3%.
The analysis shows that retail parks remain the most resilient outlet type, demonstrating a 0.3% increase in the number of outlets across Great Britain, while standalone stores – as well as those in shopping centres and high streets – all experienced net closers (-2.0%, -2.5% and -3.0%, respectively).
Despite the overall decline, the hospitality sector has seen a notable rebound, leading to a surge in new store openings. PwC and LDC’s data shows that five of the top seven new opening categories were in the hospitality sector, with takeaways, food-to-go, cafés, coffee shops and restaurants flourishing in 2023.
Also among the top new opening categories were supermarkets and petrol stations, with the latter thanks to a growing demand for EV charging stations.
Ross Marshall, Partner at PwC Scotland, said:
“Our research shows that, despite the continuing annual reduction of stores across Scotland, there is a willingness from business to invest in physical outlets, with two new stores opening per day for every three closed throughout 2023.
“It demonstrates the continuing evolution of our high streets, retail parks and shopping centres with a real shift towards out of town and retail park locations and a resurgence in the hospitality sector – demonstrating that ‘café culture’ is going nowhere. Across Scotland in the last few months alone, a variety of new eateries and bars have opened their doors, and entrepreneurs are making the most of the franchise model to bring big names to key Scottish locations.
“This willingness to invest in bricks and mortar for shoppers is encouraging – especially given that PwC research shows the majority of those aged 35 and under prefer in-person experiences, and that consumers generally believe that stores beat online when it comes to customer service and after-sales service.”
Full-service legal firm Gilson Gray is celebrating a landmark win on behalf of its client, US-based private equity house Lime Rock Partners, following the successful defence of a multi-million-dollar court case.
The claim, raised in the Court of Session in Edinburgh by prominent oil and gas businessman Robert Kidd, was understood to be the single biggest damages claim in Scottish legal history.
The case centred on an investment deal involving ITS Tubular Services, a North Sea drilling company set up by Mr Kidd in 1989. A minority stake in the company was sold to Lime Rock in 2009. Mr Kidd had made a number of allegations arising from that deal. In his decision, issued by senior Court of Session judge, Lord Tyre, Mr Kidd’s claim was dismissed in its entirety with Lime Rock winning on every point.
A team of litigation and dispute resolution specialists from Gilson Gray acted for Lime Rock, including Alex Garioch, Fraser Cameron, and Iain Grant, all of whom welcomed the judge’s decision last week.
Alex Garioch, partner at Gilson Gray, said: “In what was the highest value commercial litigation case in Scottish history, we were delighted that our client’s position was entirely vindicated. We at Gilson Gray are proud to have successfully represented such a high-profile client in an extremely complex litigation. In this case, our team’s experience in the oil and gas sector complemented our litigation and dispute resolution work to reach such a positive outcome for our client.”
Forth Ports has submitted an application for Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) to The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) for Harbour 31, an exciting new housing, commercial and retail development on a 4.7 acre waterfront site at The Port of Leith.
The proposed redevelopment of the site, close to the new FirstStage film studio, will provide 337 new homes including studios, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments – which will be in line with the CEC’s approved affordable housing policy – and approximately 244sqm of commercial space.
The apartments will be formed over a four-plot development with heights ranging from five to eight storeys with a focus on communal green spaces for the residents to enjoy and integrated sustainable travel options.
Harbour 31 is situated to the south of Edinburgh Dock within the Port of Leith and is currently used for industrial port activities. It is located close to existing and other proposed residential developments and the extended Edinburgh tram network.
The redevelopment of this area of Leith represents an exciting opportunity to create a new neighbourhood while providing high quality architecture, landscaping and public space which will enhance the city’s connection to the waterfront.
As well as benefiting from the recently opened tram extension with a tram stop designed for The Port of Leith, the proposed development will include a new transport corridor to encourage sustainable modes of transport including a bus route, cycle lane and walking route linking Bath Road to Ocean Way. The apartments will all have access to bike storage.
There will be car parking provision, given the location of the site and the excellent public transport provision and local amenities in the vicinity, car parking provision will be around 20% and include accessible parking spaces and be EV ready.
Pamela Smyth, Chief Legal and Property Officer, of landowners Forth Ports Group, said: “At Harbour 31 we want to create a vibrant new quarter for people to live and work in, as new green jobs come to Leith. The port is transitioning into Scotland’s largest renewables hub and, coupled with the benefits which will be unlocked as part of the Forth Green Freeport, Leith will be completely regenerated.
“With the option to walk or cycle to work or get the tram into the city centre, this new neighbourhood will be a key part of the continued regeneration of Leith.”
In addition, an application has been made for listed building consent for works associated with alterations to Edinburgh Dock for the provision of surface drainage for the proposed development.
The site sits on a dockside location and fits well with the Council’s Local Development Plan for a housing-led, mixed-use development. The proposals have been designed by Comprehensive Design Architects (CDA), an award-winning practice based in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The recent redevelopment of the former Holyrood Hotel to the new Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood has resulted in the property donating more than £11,000 worth of quality furniture, from armchairs and artwork to televisions and desks to Edinburgh-based charity Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR), following the completion of an extensive refurbishment.
The charity – a registered housing support service based at Whitefoord House, within the City’s UNESCO site in the Old Town – provides supported housing for former members of the UK Armed Forces and their services are available to anyone who has served in HM Forces, Reserve Forces or Merchant Marine, regardless of age or length of service, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The team have welcomed Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood’s donation as a vital contribution to their services. Kirsty Smeaton Brown, SVR’s Residence Manager at Whitefoord House, said: “The donation is a welcome surprise and addition to the Whitefoord House site, which will enhance our communal and living areas. We are delighted to be able to make such good use of recycled high-quality furniture and our residents and staff are very grateful for this thoughtful and community-spirited donation.”
The hotel, also located in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic old town is now under new ownership and showcasing the renowned Marriott Hotel standards to their guests. The hotel’s interiors have been refurbished to the tune of £10m and as a result, the existing furniture from the Holyrood property was recycled and donated to the Residences to support their community.
Michael Falla, General Manager of Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood, commented:
“The relaunch of Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood marked a long and exciting development for the City and the Marriott brand. The hotel team’s hard work and commitment took the Hotel to the next stage of its journey, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to serve our local community.
“We are very proud to be able to play our part in the incredibly worthwhile mission Scottish Veterans Residences fulfil daily and the support they offer to former members of the UK Armed Forces by donating the furniture we replaced during the refurbishment.”
Scottish Veterans Residences also operate at Rosendael, Dundee and Bellrock Close, in the East End of Glasgow.
To learn more about Scottish Veterans Residences and to donate directly, visit https://www.svronline.org
For more information on the newly refurbished Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood, visit www.marriott.com/edimh
DWF, the global provider of integrated legal and business services, has added solicitor advocate Laura McCabe as partner to its Scottish litigation team.
Specialising in advocacy, Laura McCabe joins DWF after almost 5 years at Anderson Strathern. She brings 14 years of expertise in appearance work to her new role and has broad experience in most aspects of civil and commercial litigation. From fatal accident inquiries and enforcement notice appeals to Court of Session commercial actions, she appears in the sheriff courts and tribunals of Scotland regularly.
Laura has particular experience in contentious health and safety matters and was recognised in the 2024 Legal 500 and the 2024 Chambers and Partners Scotland Health and Safety rankings where she was listed as an “Up and Coming Lawyer”. Her work also includes general commercial work, negligence, insolvency, regulatory and numerous public sector matters and has acted for corporates and public bodies across varying sectors and practice areas.
Laura has also tutored Civil Litigation on the Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of Strathclyde and continues to tutor Commercial Litigation on the Professional Legal Practice Diploma at the University of Edinburgh.
Commenting on Laura’s appointment, Stefan Paciorek, global head of dispute resolution at DWF, said: “DWF is delighted to welcome Laura as a valuable new addition to our Scottish litigation team, bringing extensive expertise and an impressive track record to her new role as partner. Her appointment not only enhances our reputation in the Scottish litigation market but will also contribute to the continued growth of our national practice.”
Laura added: “I am delighted to join DWF. The firm’s values are indicative of an inclusive culture which was particularly appealing for me to become involved in. I look forward to supporting the growth of the national practice by collaborating across the firm’s offerings throughout the UK and beyond.”
Donald Anderson is a former leader of Edinburgh’s city council. He says that, during his time in office, he was “unashamedly pro-development”. Here, he reflects on the recent history of a city that he believes has grown substantially in stature and where development and investment have transformed the fortunes of the city and its people.
THE subject of Edinburgh’s built environment has been hotly-debated, sometimes in a highly-charged and polarised way. There are good people on all sides of that debate, and we should respect that they all share a passion and love of the city.
Our city centre has the twin strengths of the glorious splendour of its New Town and an Old Town of startling character and beauty. Edinburgh grew rapidly from the inception of the New Town, but it still took around 80 years of development to give the city what is an undoubted triumph of urban planning. It was a ‘Golden Age’ for the city too; if not for its people, who mainly lived in the most abject poverty.
During much of the 20th century, however, the fate of the city centre was more troubled. A report, ‘The Development of Edinburgh’, by the Company of Merchants charitable organisation, noted the “centrifugal” forces pushing residents out of the city centre with a “corresponding decrease in the (population of) city centre wards”.
It was a call for action. By the 1940s, things were considered even worse, and the council launched a ‘Lord Provost’s Commission’ on city development. At that time, Princes Street was described in withering terms, with the report defining its mixture of a “monotonous original and chaotic modern frontage, seen in the eyes of many as irremediable”. Large parts of the High Street were also in a state of dereliction, and homes there were described in the report as “gradually being allowed to fall into decay”.
The result in the 1950s was ‘A Civic Survey & Plan for the City & Royal Burgh of Edinburgh’ (aka the Abercrombie Plan), by planning-consultant-for-hire, Sir Patrick Abercrombie, and local city planner, Derek Plumstead. This proposed radical measures that included a new inner ring road and a complete demolition and reconstruction of Princes Street. Princes Street was to have replacement buildings that incorporated a first-floor pedestrian walkway, looking over the imagined streaming road traffic). It sounds horrific and it was. It really was.
We are indeed lucky that the policy was never fully implemented, although it wasn’t until the 1980s when the plan was formally and finally revoked. During the 1950s, the city’s dereliction and decline continued. In the city’s Southside, at the infamous ‘Penny Tenement’ – so called because the landlord failed to sell it for a single penny, a gable end collapsed whilst residents slept. Many escaped death after heeding the advice of their local councillor who advised them to sleep away from the gable end.
By the 1970s, the population of the city centre plummeted and by as much as two-thirds in the now thriving Holyrood area of the city.
A book published in the mid-’70s, ‘The Unmaking of Edinburgh’, by Helen Peacock, was excoriating. I wrote an article about it, for the Edinburgh Evening News newspaper – here. The sub-heading was revealing: ‘The decay, depopulation and destruction of central Edinburgh, and argument for city centre living and a call to action!’ The book reveals the full horror of the scale of urban blight that affected central Edinburgh in the 1970s.
Quoted in ‘The Unmaking of Edinburgh’, about the formation of the New Town Conservation Committee which was set up in the aftermath of the publication of a more famous tome, ‘The Making of Classical Edinburgh’ by A J Youngson, the then secretary of the Edinburgh heritage body, the Cockburn Association, the wonderful Oliver Barratt, described the situation, thus: “The committee was duly established and began its Herculean task of halting 200 years of decay.”
Alas, the population decline of the city continued, and that task was only to really take off fully in the 1980s. The 1980s were critical in that key parts of the Abercrombie Plan were torn up by the then Edinburgh District and Lothian Region councils. By then the tide had begun to turn, and the city centre was about to bounce back.
There was also an accidental revolution. An announcement in the early 1980s of 90 per cent repair grants by the then Conservative Government turned out to be one of the greatest – and most expensive – contributions to conservation and city centre living anywhere. The scheme was vastly oversubscribed. Over the following three decades, hundreds of millions of pounds were invested in the city’s housing stock. Council officers calculated an estimate of the total spend the repairs scheme generated and arrived at a figure of £380million, which was the equivalent of a modern City Deal, all spent on housing. One City Centre tenement with wooden beams cost £1million to upgrade on its own. The policy renewed tenements throughout the city centre and beyond.
At the same time, a tight Green Belt policy drove city centre housing development to a degree that quickly repopulated areas like the Southside, Gorgie, Dalry and Holyrood, which had emptied in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Such was the pace of delivery I well remember people complaining that the council was creating a ‘monoculture’ of two-bedroom flats in the city centre, much as some residents complain about hotels and student housing these days.
Over the 25 years from the mid-80s, a slew of major regeneration projects took place or started in the city centre. These included the arrival of the Scottish Parliament, the creation of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and Exchange Financial District, Harvey Nichols, Waverley Gate, Advocates Close, the council’s own HQ and, latterly, the St James Quarter development. Businesses, particularly major financial companies, were encouraged to grow and invest in the city and city centre, and they did just that until the post 2007 crash.
And students arrived in huge numbers as the city’s universities expanded. That brought increased vibrancy to many communities and gives Edinburgh an ongoing ‘brain bounce’ from those who stay. By the mid-2000s, more than a quarter of the city population was born outside Scotland. HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) have been controversial but purpose-built student accommodation has lately absorbed much of the growth in student numbers. Short-term holiday letting has grown too, and, though the population of the city centre has grown, it has changed and not always in good ways. In my opinion, not a moment too soon, short-term holiday letting is being regulated.
The built heritage and most communities of the city are in good shape. Our historic buildings in the World Heritage site are now better maintained than ever before. A recent survey by Edinburgh Council showed that just twelve buildings in the World Heritage Site remain on the ‘At Risk’ register (here) maintained by Historic Environment Scotland. Of those buildings five are part of the Royal High School campus and one is a Police Box in the Pleasance. Of the listed buildings in the world heritage site that means only 0.27% are on the ‘At Risk’ Register. That’s an astonishing achievement and surely one of the greatest achievements in restoring a city centre anywhere.
Recently, Leith was named (here) by The Sunday Times newspaper as the best place to live in the UK, something inconceivable during the ‘Trainspotting years’.
A resident of the once infamous Banana Flats in Leith commented recently in the local press (here) that “There is no deprivation as I know and remember it.”
Indeed, the Banana Flats are now Category A-listed and will be protected and preserved in a way unthinkable in the 1980s. If I could have knocked the flats down in my time as council leader and rehoused the residents in lower rise properties, I think I would have. There were other more urgent cases for demolition at Gracemount, Sighthill and Oxgangs.
There is still deprivation, there are still drug problems and people do still struggle – and people have struggled a lot more in the recent cost of living crisis, but there is very little of the chronic destitution of the past.
The city’s transformation into a year-round tourism destination has helped secure a position as arguably the strongest city economy in the UK outside London. The city’s winter festivals alongside the city’s summer festivals have made it one of the most investable tourism destinations in Europe and Edinburgh was named the world’s most sustainable tourism destination at the 30th Annual Travel Awards in Dubai.
In Princes Street, the decline in physical retail has brought rapid and encouraging change. As a councillor for more than 20 years, I helped deliver just one major redevelopment in Princes Street, the building then occupied by clothes retailers, C&A.
Within the last five years, an array of redevelopments have started or completed that include the Johnnie Walker Visitor Centre and the redevelopment of the homes of many of the city’s traditional High Street brands including British Home Stores, Debenhams, New Look, Top Shop and of course the ‘grand old dame’ of Edinburgh shopping – Jenners – is now owned and is being lovingly redeveloped by Anders Povlsen, one of Europe’s richest people. I know of no other city outside London that is bouncing back as fast or strongly as Edinburgh. Figures from Essential Edinburgh back that view up.
Princes Street’s future is looking bright, but the changes are not yet fully visible as approved plans take time to build out in the post Covid era, which has seen construction costs rocket. The future of Princes Street is not just as a shopping street. Successful High Streets will be based on successful experiences, and Princes Street is well placed to be at the forefront of a reinvented city centre.
I’m admittedly biased, but I would argue that Edinburgh is a model of a successful regeneration and transformation. I firmly believe that, unlike Icarus, when a city economy flies high, it does not subsequently crash. Rather, what happens is that it weathers downturns far better and recovers from them far more quickly than lower-performing economies. Put simply, more people keep their jobs in a downturn and those who lose them get back into work more quickly afterwards.
Edinburgh has become a stunning economic success, and it’s a success for its residents too. In no period in the city’s history has the population lived through a period of such relative affluence and low unemployment as in recent decades, though people are undoubtedly suffering from recent economic woes caused by rising costs, COVID, the war in Ukraine and a near constant threat of another economic downturn.
There are still huge challenges in delivering enough new homes to make them both affordable and attainable. The council’s Poverty Commission identified housing costs as the single most important factor in reducing poverty. It stated that in simple terms. “There is no solution to poverty in Edinburgh without solving the city’s housing and homelessness crisis.”
As I write the Scottish Government rent cap has stopped the delivery of ‘Build to Rent’ housing dead. Significant numbers of sites in the city have been flipped to (equally needed) Purpose Built Student Housing as investors struggle to make investments work under the new regime. On the plus side two major new applications for 10,000 new homes have been lodged in west Edinburgh, and the first housing site on the land allocated for housing Edinburgh Park has been agreed. However, the delivery of sufficient homes to both tackle housing affordability and meet the needs of a growing city looks uncertain.
The city stands on the verge of delivering two decades long ambitions in its cultural infrastructure. Plans for a new concert hall and home for The Scottish Chamber Orchestra have been approved and work has started on what is a challenging city centre site. However, it is the only viable site available for such a facility and as work has already started I am optimistic that it will be delivered. Also, a planning application has been submitted for a new arena at Edinburgh Park in the west of the city. Let me declare an interest in that project as I’m part of the development team, but my enthusiasm for the new proposals is genuine, not least because as council leader I tried twice to deliver such a facility and didn’t manage to deliver success. As Council Leader Cammy Day recently stated, “We may be seeing the last pieces of the cultural jigsaw in Edinburgh fall into place.”
There are other challenges. The Bioquarter in the city seems to be going from strength to strength. Edinburgh also needs to continue to nurture the city’s blossoming tech sector. Hopefully both can continue to thrive and help strengthen the city’s economy.
The future will always be tough, and cities will always face challenges, but Edinburgh can face that future with more confidence than the vast array of modern cities. The northern fringes of Europe are not necessarily the best of places to create a strong and dynamic city economy, but that is exactly what has been created in modern Edinburgh.
Everyone, the city’s politicians, business leaders, charities and residents should work together with the aim of building on that success to make one of the best cities in the world even better.
