Growing campaign to protect Summerhall gathers momentum

The strength of feeling about Summerhall has grown. In recent weeks my office has heard from a huge number of constituents concerned about what the plans could mean for the artists, small businesses and community who make this place special.

On Sunday afternoon, the depth of that concern was impossible to ignore. More than 300 people came together at a public meeting called by fellow Scottish Greens MSP Q Manivannan. The Main Hall was standing room only, with artists, residents and supporters united in wanting a future that protects what makes Summerhall valuable.

That mobilisation deserves celebration. It shows how people care about Edinburgh’s cultural life, and how determined they are not to see a part of the city’s history lost through a redevelopment driven by commercial priorities.

I want to be clear: Summerhall needs investment. Its buildings need work, and I understand the developer needs a viable financial model to secure the site for the long term. A hotel may help make that possible. But that cannot come at the expense of the people and spaces that give Summerhall its character.

Any revised plan must protect affordable studios for artists, retain the courtyard as a welcoming community space, and keep the pub and social spaces that bring people together free and open. New homes should be flats and apartments for people to rent or buy, not more purpose-built student accommodation.

This is not a choice between redevelopment and doing nothing. It is a choice about what future we want. Edinburgh needs homes, creative workspaces and places where people can meet, make and perform. Summerhall can provide all three.

The campaign gathering around this site is a powerful reminder that communities are not bystanders in decisions about their future. They are part of its history, and must all be part of what comes next.