On Wednesday next week, the Development Management Sub-Committee will consider Nuveen’s application to erect temporary structures for ‘a defined period each year’ in St James Square (22/02035/FUL).
The structures in question are a bar, Spiegeltent, seating, and wooden perimeter fence, together comprising an outdoor event space for up to 200 people operating between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. in August. Set-up and take-down would take a week on either side of the events.
Officials recommend councillors refuse the application because Environmental Health colleagues say the events would likely exceed expected acceptable noise levels. Based on Noise Impact Assessment commissioned by Nuveen itself, they say events in the space would result in an ‘unreasonable level’ of disturbance ‘to the detriment of neighbouring amenity’.
The plans offer no mitigative measures that would effectively reduce that noise level. So, the proposals fail to comply with the overall objectives of the Local Development Plan (specifically, Des 5, Ret 7, and Ret 11).
Officials find the plans for St James Square to be acceptable on other material planning grounds. They form part of a broader vision for animating open spaces within and around the St James Quarter. They negatively affect relatively few people – only nine public representations have been made against the proposal.
However, the acknowledged detrimental effect cannot be ignored. It cuts to the core of Fringe and Festival relations with the city that hosts them.
Some observers on social media already criticise objectors for a kill-joy NIMBYism. However, others insist there is something more important at stake: Edinburgh is not primarily an entertainment venue. Its character – the magnet which draws cultural and commercial interests to it in the first place – depends, they say, in large part on a settled city-centre population.
That population’s rootedness here demands that residents’ reasonable expectations of amenity continue to be respected and defended.
They demand councillors on the DMS follow the Council’s own guidelines and make a principled stand.
UPDATE: For decision of Development Management Subcommittee, see Breaking news 26.9.22.
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