Do we need to be bolder about Princes Street?
Arguments rage on the shape and progress of plans for world-famous Edinburgh street
It started as a residential street, with grand terraced townhouses for the city’s wealthy residents. Today it is evolving from the city’s premier retail thoroughfare into a mix of shops, hotels and hospitality. But the future of the public realm of Princes Street remains uncertain with debate continuing to rage.
Radical revamp or practical progress? Do we need to think bigger and bolder, or could the pursuit of perfection be the enemy of progress?
Take a walk along June Princes Street any sunny day in June, and it is likely to be packed, with noisy construction works at the former Jenners site sounding a constant reminder that revival is happening.
With major hotel investment, record visitor footfall and only a handful of vacant shop units, it appears to be more resilient than many key city centre streets elsewhere in the UK.
At the same time there’s no denying it’s dire need of a facelift and has been for many years. But the long-awaited overhaul of the public realm is in limbo.
After the council’s Princes Street and Waverley Valley strategy fell flat, transport, heritage and culture experts attended a special summit earlier this month to come up with a more “ambitious and exciting” strategy.
Beyond agreement on fixing broken pavements and improving access to the Gardens no consensus emerged on what a scheme should look like or when it could be delivered.
“We need stewardship”
The debate has been going on for many years. Yet we still don’t have a clear, overarching vision. So, what is the ambition for Princes Street?
Nearly ten years on from the last ambitious scheme heritage chiefs warn that we are still not clear on that fundamental question.
