Scottish Built Heritage: Who Has The Last Say?

While the Scots are struggling hard in attempting to rescue their political freedom from its virtual reality, or in trying to have the last say on their political destiny - it seems that they still to claim many of decision making and control privileges as well. It looks like the course of true freedom will never run smooth for Scotland.

Sadly, major developmental schemes in Edinburgh were called to a halt last week as Koïchiro Matsuura (Director-General of Unesco) called for an investigation into the city’s world heritage status to be carried out.[source]

According to Unesco, the major schemes in the city; such as the £300 million Caltongate project masterplanned by Allan Murray and the £200 million Haymarket project by Richard Murphy, could damage Edinburgh’s skyline. Unesco claims that Edinburgh should be placed on its “at risk” list of “endangered sites”.

Apparently, the Scottish architects are enraged – and who can blame them! Imagine someone coming to interfere with the way you decorate your own living room!
If Scottish architects and designers are not to trust with the decisions they take in transforming the urban environment they inhabit, how can some decision makers behind their desks in Unesco - who probably never been to Edinburgh before - be trusted?!

Caltongate development - Allan Murray’s masterplan


Haymarket tower - Richard Murphy’s 17-storey hotel

The fact that Edinburgh was made a World Heritage Site by the organisation in 1995, allows its inspectors to investigate and may consequently issue a critical report, which means that the city could lose its status.
The real sad part in all this controversy is not the fact that these schemes might affect the historic skyline of Edinburgh, or the risk of it loosing its heritage status; or the credibility of Scottish architects per se, but the big lobbying campaigns that start behind doors for the mere purpose of pocketing more money by labour or the nationalists or others!