Controversial plans to restore the former Royal High school in Edinburgh as a world-class hotel have the support of 93 per cent of Edinburgh residents according to a new survey commissioned by the developer.
It is claimed one of the largest polling exercises carried out in the city in recent times involved almost 5,000 people across 12 city districts who were interviewed on the streets and asked their opinion on the £75 million proposal to transform the A-listed former school into a luxury hotel set to go before planners in December.
The survey found 78 per cent interviewed believe the proposal to save the Thomas Hamilton neoclassical masterpiece will have either a positive or no effect on the city’s World Heritage status
The survey was carried out by consultants Scott Porter Research & Marketing, who conducted a total of 4,833 face-to-face interviews with a minimum of 400 people in each of the 12 selected Edinburgh council wards between 10 October and 18 November this year.
It came amid concerns of the impact the proposed plans would have on Edinburgh’s World Heritage status.
Pentland Hills recorded the most favourable responses, with 97 per cent approving of developing the former Royal High building as a hotel and 98 per cent in favour of the design of the development.
The lowest levels of support were recorded in the Corstorphine/Murrayfield ward at 86 per cent and 85 per cent respectively.
When asked what effect they thought the proposals for a world class hotel at the former Royal High would have on the city’s World Heritage status, the results reveal that 41 per cent of city residents think the fully-funded plans to restore the building will have a positive effect, 37 per cent believe it will have no effect, while seven per cent thought it would have a negative impact.
Of those asked 15 per cent didn’t know what effect it might have.
The full results of the survey have been made available for download at www.oldroyalhighschool.com alongside the full planning application.
Bruce Hare, Duddingston House Properties, said: “This is the fourth survey that has been carried out since public consultation began on this project, and each has shown that an overwhelming majority of Edinburgh’s population wish to see this important building saved and become a key part of the city’s life again as a hotel.
“The funding has been secured, a truly world-class hotel operator in the shape of Rosewood has agreed to bring its expertise to Edinburgh, and subject to planning everything is in place to be able to restore the building and at the same time create hundreds of quality jobs in the heart of the capital.
“The spin-off economic benefits for the rest of the country will be significant too. By creating an attraction of this calibre it will help to put Edinburgh and Scotland right back at the top of must-see destinations for visitors from across the globe.”
In 2010 Duddingston House Properties won a City of Edinburgh Council competition to find a sustainable use for the building that did not require public funding.
It is claimed the proposals submitted for approval in December will ensure the building remains in public ownership, with the new hotel operating on a long-term lease with a brief to showcase the very best of Scottish food and drink, goods, design and artistic creativity.
Quotas were set to ensure a representative sample of the population in terms of gender, age and socio-economic group were represented in the survey.
The districts surveyed were: Meadows/Morningside, Sighthill/Gorgie, Drum Brae/Gyle, Corstorphine/Murrayfield, Southside/Newington, Leith Walk, Leith, Portobello/Craigmillar, Liberton/Gilmerton, Inverleith, City Centre and Pentland Hills.
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