First phase of Royal Highland Centre redevelopment gets approval

The
owner of Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre has been granted planning
permission for the first stage of a £30m redevelopment of the site.
 
The
Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) will
construct a new boulevard entrance, which will run from the main
Edinburgh Airport approach from Eastfield Road to a new entrance on the
east centre of the centre. The boulevard will be 290m long and more than
30m wide and will feature footpaths and a tree avenue.
 
The Royal Highland Centre received the greenlight on its £30m redevelopment masterplan
from the City of Edinburgh Council 12 months ago. The boulevard’s
approval represents the first detailed step in realising that plan.
 
“There
have been some issues of detail to be discussed with the planners but
these have now been resolved and we look forward to making a start on
construction, probably following this year’s Royal Highland Show in
June,” RHASS chief executive Stephen Hutt said.
 
“The boulevard
will be a main artery serving the Royal Highland Centre and its
completion is pivotal to the other developments envisaged for the east
of the showground. It is heartening that we can now start to progress
the plans to transform our grounds into a world-class exhibition and
event venue.”
 
Plans for the eastern approach to the Royal
Highland Centre include a 165-bedroom hotel, a Scottish Centre of
Excellence, an ‘agri-business’ hub with office, conference and leisure
facilities and a new East Entrance.
 
“With our proximity to
Edinburgh Airport, we are playing an influential role in establishing an
international gateway to the capital and Scotland,” Hutt added.
 
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