National Grid lodges appeal to demolish Edinburgh gas tower.
The property arm of National Grid wants to turn the B-listed Granton gas tower to rubble in order to allow it to press ahead with its development of the 44 hectare Forthquarter site on which it sits.
Its proposals were thwarted in November when councillors refused to grant planning consent to demolish the giant 45 metre structure. Now National Grid has lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government, which is expected to announce a major public inquiry on the issue.
It means that the future of the 108-year-old landmark – which has divided opinions in the Granton area – hangs in the balance once again.
Ann Confrey, a spokeswoman for National Grid’s Forthquarter communications centre, said: “National Grid has appealed against the decision and requested a public inquiry and we await the date of that.
“We are unable to develop the site, and potentially the site adjacent, unless we sterilise a large area for development and that would seriously impact on National Grid’s ability to fund the development of the site. Retaining the gasholder would have a serious impact on the ability to achieve any value on the site.”
The threat of demolition first emerged more than a decade ago but it was saved when Historic Scotland gave it protected listed status in 1998 and it remains B-listed.
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