The Council Leader has met with business representatives, heritage organisations, community groups and Councillors to provide an update on efforts to reopen Princes Street.
The meeting also discussed the Council's wider response to the disruption.
Cllr Meagher hosted the summit in Edinburgh’s City Chambers last night (12 August), which saw officers set out in detail the complexity of making the former Debenhams building safe to allow the thoroughfare to reopen.
Initial proposals for a communications campaign to promote those businesses and communities most affected by the disruption were also presented and discussed. This will also include resident and visitor spend incentives, events and other promotions.
This activity will be paid for from the Scottish Government funding announced last week and would continue beyond the reopening of Princes Street and into next year.
Key points from the on-site progress update:
- Five weeks on from the fire, work on site continues to progress well. The focus continues to be on making the building safe – allowing Princes Street to reopen - while aiming to retain as many of its historic features as possible.
- This is complex and challenging work which is carried out from cranes by a team of highly skilled engineers.
- The eastern gable of the building has been secured and made safe. This involved reducing it in height by approximately two metres and supporting it with scaffolding.
- The front façade of the building is now being stabilised with steel beams – more than 40% of these are now in place internally and externally to support the western end of the Princes Street façade - with work ongoing on the remainder of the upper floors.
- Several tonnes of bricks and unsafe stonework – some weighing as much as 850kg – from the upper levels of the façade have been carefully removed and carefully stored on site for reuse.
- Debris and dangerous materials continue to be removed from inside the building – with several tonnes already removed.
- Subject to favourable weather conditions (this restricts when this can be done safely) the hope is that work carried out will allow Princes Street to reopen by the end of August.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said:
“We’ve been working tirelessly to make sure Princes Street can fully reopen and I’m reassured by the progress being made. It goes without saying that we want to do this as soon as possible – but only when it is safe to do so.
“I want to reiterate just how complicated, hazardous and challenging this work is – and it was helpful to be able to share more of this detail during, what was, a very positive and constructive meeting with local business and community representatives last night.
“I was extremely grateful to all those who attended and gave us their feedback – which I committed to taking on board, either immediately or as part of our lessons learned exercise that will follow. I also welcomed the views of Edinburgh World Heritage and the Scottish Architectural Society who spoke in praise of the steps we’re taking to preserve an important part of our city’s heritage.
“Clearly, the resulting disruption continues to have a significant effect on businesses, particularly on the north end of the tram route, and last night we outlined our plans for a communications campaign to promote Leith, the Shore and Newhaven – and everything all they have to offer for our residents and visitors.
“This is being developed very much in partnership with the businesses and communities themselves – and we hope it will encourage people to visit businesses in the area well into the future.
“What also came across strongly last night was the effect this is having on our residents who are struggling to get to work, meet commitments or make appointments. I want to put on record again my thanks for your patience and understanding and to reiterate my determination to bring this disruption to an end as soon as it is safe to do so.
“In the meantime, I want to give special thanks to Lothian Buses, particularly their drivers, for their support in keeping the city moving.”
The latest updates and information, including a Q&A and image gallery, are available on the Council’s dedicated webpages.