One of Scotland’s prettiest streets made world famous by Instagram is at the centre of a planning row amid fears it would make it less picturesque.
Circus Lane, in Edinburgh’s New Town, has become popular with visitors seeking the perfect snapshot of the Capital and the cobbled street is also regularly used by couples posing for wedding portraits.
The curved street is overlooked by St Stephen’s Church and is lined with quaint former coach houses with greenery growing over the porches.
But neighbours fear the ‘unique character’ of the street could be ruined forever if proposals to build a new mews house are given the go ahead.
Architects working on designs for a mews house on Circus Lane have acknowledged the ‘particularly beautiful’ view from the street, and described the evening light as ‘picturesque in the extreme’.
A description of the plans, by firm Somner Macdonald, said: “The site itself does not appear to be listed although we have treated it as though it is.
“The site is within the New Town Conservation Area.
“The site consists of a small plot of land at the northern end of what was the garden to no6 Royal Circus, which is category A listed.
“For this reason, we have developed our designs under the assumption that this plot would be regarded as a listed building.”
But a poster put up in the lane read: “The proposed development site has historically never had any mews houses.
“As a result, if approved, the proposed development is likely to result in all the gardens at the east end being developed.
“This will result in the unique character of that end of the lane being lost forever.
“The proposed house is also not particularly sympathetic to the rest of the lane.”
So far the proposals have sparked 13 objections, mostly from neighbours on Circus Lane but including some from further afield.
The poster urged for objections to be made to the City of Edinburgh Council by December 12.
Neighbour Maureen Watson, who lives on the lane, said: "I have lived in the lane since the late 80s, and I have sadly seen a deterioration in this historic conservation area.
"This recent proposal is a further negative impact on our beautiful surroundings which are regularly visited by tourists to Edinburgh.
"It is nothing less than a carbunko, not only on the surrounding beauty but also has the possibility of destroying mature trees in the area and the peaceful surroundings of the lane."
The 'compact' house would be modern, and built with a pitched roof similar to neighbouring buildings and a stone wall, according to the architects.
The firm has insisted it drew inspiration from the surroundings in the conservation area, and used materials such as zinc to be in keeping with other buildings.
It said: "The overall form was arrived at quickly; a clear, traditional pitched form, scaled to tie in with the adjacent buildings."
A statement from SomnerMacdonald said: "Circus Lane is one of Scotland's most celebrated streets, mainly due to its curving nature and proximity to St Stephens Church along with the quality and variety of the architecture which form the lane.
"The proposed design takes significant cues from the existing characteristics found on Circus Lane i.e petite massing, a strong form and a restricted material palette."
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