Breaking news

City of Edinburgh Council's Planning Committee seeks views on changing residential properties into guest houses, private day nurseries, and home-based businesses.

They've issued a draft guideline which can be viewed at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/planning.

Since August the Fairtrade/Kenya WAO (Wider Achievement Opportunity) has been running a café (tuckshop!) every Friday for staff at Drummond CHS, writes Annie Scanlon. Now they’re ready to introduce their classmates to Fairtrade with a variety of events for Fairtrade Fortnight starting on Monday 22 February.

Edinburgh-based AMA (New Town) Ltd seeks permission to convert Fusion House at 73 Logie Road from offices into a residential care home for up to 90 people (Ref. 10/00228/FUL).

The plan would involve building kitchens and administration space within part of a groundfloor car park, and adding a conservatory to the 3rd-floor terrace.

An overprovision of office space in the capital during the recession has made the 130,980 sq ft building hard to let or sell. In fact it has been empty ever since construction in 2008. 

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The Duke of Edinburgh was in town today, and this morning visited Broughton St Mary's Parish Church.

The Rev. Joanne Hood and Project Manager Dick Smith showed him around the newly refurbished building, of which he was Patron at the fund-raising stage.

On his half-hour tour he met local schoolchildren, teachers, parishioners and other guests connected with the Inside Out project.

Outside, curious locals sheltered from the rain before sharing a few words.

Tesco has won planning permission to convert 8 Picardy Place into a Tesco Express on 3 floors (Issues 169–71+). Councillors followed officers' recommendations at the Committee meeting on 24 February, despite numerous objections by locals and politicians.

Basic enabling works have begun on Scotland St Tunnel with the removal of brick walls and improvement of surfaces. The new security screen should be in place by early March.

The resultant small covered area open to the park will, with additional funding, be further developed into a youth shelter.

Daylight in the tunnel has, for the first time in years, revealed the presence of stalagtites.

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Well perhaps not this year, but the way our skiers have performed there’s definitely potential for the future, writes staff member Gillian Hemmings.

As part of the Wednesday afternoon WAO (Wider Achievement Opportunities), 50 students started skiing in August 2009, 43 of whom had never skied before.

Soon they were able to ski from the very top of Hillend. The confidence they gained was amazing. Conquering fears has taught them you can do anything if you give it a go.

Councillors will decide on 24 February whether to grant planning permission for a 3-floor Tesco at 8 Picardy Place (Ref. 09/00385/FUL).

The Development Management Sub-committee – which includes local Ward 11 councillors Charles Dundas (Lib-Dem.) and Joanne Mowat (Scottish Con.) – will meet at 10am in City Chambers. Members of the public may attend.

To find out whether this application will be presented and discussed (rather than determined in accordance with officials' recommendation), phone 529 4091 on Tuesday 23 February.

Calton Hillers unhappy at the prospect of not turning right into Blenheim Place from London Road have 28 days from 21 February to object.

Click on Objection below for further details. For a contrary position drawn up by Council officers, click on the Briefing Note below. See also 'Letters'.

For the latest information (25.4.10) visit www.keepblenheimplaceopen.com.

As reported in 'Breaking news' on 11 February, Broughton Street is to partially reopen.

Following a planning meeting on Monday and a site visit yesterday, TIE officials confirmed to Spurtle that Broughton Street will be open to left-turns out of York Place from 1 March.

Broughton Place is currently scheduled to reopen at the end of March.