Survey suggests 93% support Old Royal High development
Heritage groups are against turning the historic building into a hotel - but research suggests most people in the city think it's a good idea.
Plans to turn the old Royal High building on Calton Hill into a luxury hotel have the support of 93% of Edinburgh residents, according to a major survey.
In one of the largest polling exercises carried out in the city in recent times, almost 5,000 people across 12 city wards were interviewed on the streets and asked their opinion.
The £75m proposal is set to go before planners in December but has come up against strong oppositon from heritage groups. The survey was carried out by independent consultants Scott Porter Research & Marketing between 10 October and 18 November this year. People were also asked what effect they thought the proposals would have on the city’s World Heritage status.
The results suggest that 41% of city residents think the plans, which developers say are fully funded, will have a positive effect, 37% believe it will have no effect, while only 7% thought it would have a negative impact. Of those asked only 15% didn’t know what effect it might have.
Bruce Hare, Duddingston House Properties, said: “This is the fourth survey that has been carried out since public consultation began on this project.
"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".