Edinburgh youth club to install six painted murals after Southside plans approved
Edinburgh youth club building to be brightened up with new murals
Plans have been approved for an Edinburgh youth club to install six graffiti murals on the exterior of its base in Southside.
Lothian Association of Youth (LAYC) submitted plans in April to install painted murals, painted on plywood panels and installed on external elevations of Dunford House, 7 Boroughloch.
This project aims to engage children and young people within LAYC’s membership in a creative process that fosters self-expression, teamwork, and a sense of ownership and pride.
A visual artist/muralist will work collaboratively with a group of young people to design and paint three murals on marine plywood panels, which later will be installed on the exterior walls of Dunford House on six large marine plywood panels.
The applicant said this will “create better places, places that people enjoy being in with meaningful and youth-created artwork, especially as Dunford House is located on a prominent position within the Meadows, on a cycle path, opposite a busy playpark and Edinburgh Leisure tennis courts”.
The youth club hopes this will empower children and young people through creative expression, and ensure children can engage with the art and culture of their area. And, promote teamwork, inclusion, and personal development through this collaborative mural-making project.
In the planning documents, the applicant said: “This project offers a platform for artistic expression and builds community, resilience, and positive identity among young people who need it most.
“Through painting and shared stories, the projects hope to give young people the tools to see themselves as creators of change, through a piece of artwork in their local community.
“LAYC recognises that Dunford House is located within the Southside Conservation Area; however, its current condition due to graffiti significantly detracts from the character of the area.
“This project will positively contribute to the area, improving it for both residents and visitors alike.”
Approving the proposals on July 13, the council’s chief planning officer David Givan said: “While murals in this location would appear prominent on approach from the south and west, they would be of an appropriate size and scale and would provide a degree of visual interest to this corner building.
“The siting of the murals would also discourage unauthorised graffiti when taking into considerations the site’s conditions. The murals would be painted onto plywood and attached to the stone and are therefore easily removable.
“The proposal would not adversely affect impact the character and appearance of the conservation area.”
The existing building features a blank stone facade at the corner of North Meadow Walk where it meets Boroughloch Lane. Three individual murals of the same size will be placed here, and two murals are proposed on Boroughloch Lane, with the sixth mural to be placed on a external door.
The applicant now has three years to place the six murals on the building. Prior to the installation of the plywood panels, detailed drawings, including cross-sections shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority.
This planning application received no public comments on the City of Edinburgh Council’s online planning portal.
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