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Caltongate boss to head city’s building taskforce

THE businessman behind the controversial Caltongate development is to head up a taskforce aiming to improve relations between builders and heritage watchdogs in the Capital.

Manish Chande, chief executive of Mountgrange Capital, will lead efforts to find common ground with conservationists and lobby politicians in an effort to speed up the city’s planning system.

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has set up the group after warning developers are turning their back on Edinburgh in favour of Glasgow and Newcastle.

Mr Chande’s company wants to build homes, a hotel and conference centre, offices, cafes, bars, and a new public square on the site of the old New Street bus depot.

But there is huge opposition over proposals to knock down a tenement block on the Royal Mile and two listed buildings as part of the development.

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce is the scheme’s only high-profile backer, while leading critics include heritage watchdogs Edinburgh World Heritage and the Cockburn Association.

Mr Hewitt said: “The aim of the group is to attract investment and new jobs to Edinburgh.

“It’s about developers working together to find out what the common issues are that need addressed, and it’s about building relationships with the planning department and heritage groups.

“There a number of things in Edinburgh holding us back, including the slowness of the planning system, difficulties in developing in the World Heritage Site and the sheer number of ‘Nimby’ groups set up to oppose developments in Edinburgh.”

Around 25 developers and other firms are involved in the new taskforce, including Gladedale Capital, the firm transforming the site of the former Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and Henderson Global Investors, the developer planning to overhaul the St James Centre.

Jane Jackson, acting director of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “We are happy to sit down and talk to anybody. However, we do not have to agree with them.”

Julie Logan, spokeswoman for the Save Our Old Town campaign, said: “We’re not sure why this group has been set up, but it’s going to be purely representing the interests of the private sector.”

Mr Chande was unavailable for comment today.