Pavements and street furniture in Edinburgh's Princes Street 'below standard'

PRINCES Street’s pavements and street furniture are not up to scratch and must be improved to a standard appropriate for its historic setting, councillors have been told.

A vision will be drawn up for the future of Princes Street and the Waverley Valley

A report to next week’s planning committee on the future of the Capital’s most famous shopping thoroughfare highlights its central importance at the heart of the World Heritage Site.

But it says: “The quality of surface materials and street furniture are below the standard expected for a regional centre for retail and leisure and an iconic World-renowned street.

“Despite the prime retail frontage and prospect to the Castle and Gardens, the fabric of Princes Street comprises tired concrete paving, out of keeping with its historic context.”

And it notes that while there have been upgrades as part of the tram project, only 37 per cent of almost 5,000 people surveyed in 2018 were satisfied with the quality of central streets and spaces.

The report continues: “Benches on the south side of the street are oriented away from views and towards traffic.”

And it says with the changing climate resulting in more intense downpours, drainage problems resulting from previous pavement widening need to be resolved.

Joanna Mowat, Tory councillor for City Centre ward, echoed the report’s analysis, describing Princes Street as looking “slightly down at heel”. She said: “No one could say it looks like a well-loved, cherished and prized street.”

The report outlines plans to draw up a vision for the street and how to conserve and manage change within the historic townscape, including the pavement areas.

The Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy, which will be prepared over the next year, will include looking at how to maximise the value of the gardens in enhancing physical and mental wellbeing while also accommodating events and activities. With a decline in retail, it will also review block-by-block the opportunities for investment, growth and jobs. And it will bring forward a design code to help make the area more attractive.

Planning convener Neil Gardiner said: "An important reason why Edinburgh is recognised across the world as an outstanding city is because of the Waverley Valley between the Old and New Towns, with gardens and outstanding views. I would like our vision to be for a welcoming, relaxing and people-friendly environment.”

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