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Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for Scottish ministers to overturn Edinburgh City Council’s approval of the new ‘Ribbon’ hotel.
A page created on Change.org has already attracted over 700 supporters. It says: “We want MSPs to overturn Edinburgh Council’s decision on the ‘Ribbon’ hotel. We believe that this design does not fit in with edinburghs historical and beautiful look and would be better suited elsewhere.
“Many refer to the building design in question as ‘hideous’. There must be a standard aesthetically for new buildings in the city centre and considering more than 70% of the people are against this design, the ‘ribbon’ hotel falls very short of the standard. We ask you to overturn the decision and ask it either be replaced with a more suitable design or moved elsewhere where it will fit in.”
Planning officials have said that the hotel’s proximity to a listed building could harm the city’s status as a World Heritage Site, and claimed the new project would be wider and taller than initially proposed, blocking key views across the city.
Concerns were also raised over the material coating the hotel’s exterior, which planning officials fear could be “too shiny and reflective”.
The 210-bedroom hotel, which forms part of an £850m plan to regenerate Edinburgh’s St James Centre, will feature a restaurant, bars and a rooftop terrace.
Signatories on the petition page were not reticent to share their views on why the building should not be allowed to be constructed:
