Report comment

The caltongate scheme demonstrates what rubbish you get when developers are invited to draft 'masterplans' rather than it emerging from agreed Statutory policies in consultation with communities and impartial experts in planning (and conservation when in a sensitive area like the Old Town). If the council had been more up front and open about the disposal of land and put together a development brief for the site before marketing it (the usual practice and that which was done for the former council offices at Advocates Close) I doubt we would be looking at such an inappropriate development now. Opportunities to rectify the significant move away from National Policy (reuse or adaptation of sound listed and unlisted buildings to complement sustainable modern buildings over the existing gap site) were ignored by former Planning Convenor Trevor Davis who was dismissive of professionals views and rude and agressive to community members opposed to the masterplan. Terry Farrell is right to critisise the lack of resources and competance of CEC who cannot produce a competant and consistant planning strategy for the whole city. Unfortunately the lessons of Caltongate have not been learned as the City Development Department are continuing to allow private developers to employ architects to draft masterplans for council owned sites.....watch out for West Port....where Allan Murray is busy drafting yet another 'masterplan' for Argyll House which includes council land and buildings to be flogged off on King Stables Road!