FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click on the links below to reveal the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the St James project. If you have any further queries, you can get in touch with us by using the contact details at the bottom of the page.

  • How much consultation have you carried out?

    Almost two years of consultation has been undertaken with the City of Edinburgh Council, the local community and other key stakeholders, including heritage organisations. This included an eight-week on site public exhibition on the outline proposals in early 2008.

    The public was overwhelmingly supportive of the HGI proposals with widespread backing for plans to improve access through the site. The feedback received throughout our consultation has been extensively used to inform the design process.

     

  • What stage are you at with the planning process?

    In September 2008 HGI submitted an outline planning application and illustrative masterplan for the St James Quarter. The illustrative masterplan demonstrates how the overall redevelopment could appear in the future and considers opportunities to redevelop the wider St James Quarter including landholdings outside HGI’s ownership. This includes the area around Picardy Place and St Mary's Cathedral.

    If the outline planning application is approved, HGI will submit a series of ‘reserved matters’ applications that will include the detailed architectural designs of all the buildings.

  • What are the main elements of the proposals?

    The application proposes the demolition of the existing St James Centre (excluding John Lewis), New St Andrews House and the multi-storey car park to provide a mixed-use development comprising new shops, hotels, offices, cafés and restaurants, new homes and car parking.  The scheme will also include a crescent-shaped galleria, which will sweep across from Multrees Walk to the shopping centre's current Princes Street/Leith Street entrance.

    In addition, the St James Quarter will provide a family of intimate squares and spaces connected by streets including an enhanced Registry Square, a new central urban space near the existing St James Square and another around Little King Street. The proposals will deliver improved routes through the St James Quarter area, establishing strong links and connections with the wider city.

    Key features of the St James outline planning application include:

    • A new multi-level retail offer arranged around the central galleria
    • Distinctive new buildings which would be home to cafés and restaurants at lower levels, spilling out onto public spaces, such as a new contemporary public square at St James Square
    • Up to 250 new homes on the upper levels, looking out onto a stunning roof garden
    • A new hotel housed within a central feature building and an apart-hotel
    • Around 160,000 sq ft of modern office space
    • 1,800 underground car park spaces

  • What benefits will the scheme bring?

    The redevelopment of St James will bring a number of significant long-term benefits to Edinburgh, including:

    • The regeneration of a key strategic site in the city centre and replacement of buildings that currently blight their location and the wider environment
    • Additional annual tourism spending of £20 million
    • Linkages to new public transport infrastructure including a tram halt at Picardy Place
    • Up to 4,000 permanent and part-time retail positions, and 7,000 construction jobs
    • The creation of a world-class retail destination, which will restore Edinburgh's reputation as one of Europe's leading shopping cities and return the city to its rightful position in the UK's retail hierarchy
    • Skills training for retail sector employees at the ‘Academy at St James Shopping Centre’
    • A ‘Construction Academy’ designed to train and recruit individuals looking for a career in the building industry
    • An exciting new quarter for the residents and visitors

  • Why does Edinburgh need more shops?

    The galleria will improve the quality and quantity of shopping facilities within Edinburgh city centre.  At present, Edinburgh’s position in the national retail hierarchy is out of step with its status as Scotland's capital and a city of international renown. The city now ranks far behind Glasgow and has been overtaken by cities such as Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. A redeveloped St James Quarter will restore Edinburgh’s reputation as one of Europe’s leading shopping destinations.
     

  • Will the shopping centre be closed at any time during construction or demolition?

    The redevelopment project comprises a number of phases and is expected to take several years to complete. It is anticipated that the St James Centre will close for three years in total, although John Lewis will remain open throughout.  There will be inevitable disruption during the redevelopment, but HGI and its contractors will aim to minimise any inconvenience.
     

  • Who is funding the redevelopment?

    Henderson Global Investors is driving the project forward.

  • What will the new centre look like?

    The look of the buildings will be decided in the detailed design (“reserved matters”) application stages and there will be further consultation prior to the submission of these applications.  The masterplan is a blueprint for the entire St James Quarter and the outline planning application submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council will simply establish principles for the redevelopment - such as the location, height and massing of buildings, with the thoroughfares and the proposed uses.

  • Will the redevelopment increase local traffic?  Will there be more car parking?

    The proposals envisage replacing the existing 620-space multi-storey car park with a state-of-the-art underground facility that will be able to accommodate 1,800 vehicles. Traffic management will form an important part of any future development plan and the final designs will seek to capitalise on the planned changes to Edinburgh's public transport infrastructure, including the trams.

  • Are there going to be more restaurants and bars?

    A vibrant mix of high quality cafés and restaurants is an important element of the St James Quarter proposals.

  • What is the development timetable?

    HGI anticipates a decision on the outline planning application by Spring 2009.  We will then begin the detailed design work and submit a series of ‘reserved matters’ applications for consideration by the council.  Work could start on the new St James Quarter as soon as 2011, with the new shopping element opening in 2015 and the completion of the entire scheme expected the following year.

    This timing, however, is dependent on a number of factors - particularly the necessary planning consents - and might therefore be subject to change.

  • Do you still plan to build a tall building?

    HGI has identified an opportunity to create a landmark iconic building adjoining the Galleria and is still considering a taller building element. This is not part of the outline planning application.

  • What will happen to Picardy Place?

    Proposed improvements around St Mary's Cathedral at Picardy Place include a new square, lined with cafés, restaurants and hotel. This is to be the subject of a separate planning application to the City of Edinburgh Council at a later date.

 

For shopping enqueries, please contact:

The Centre Management Team
St James Shopping Centre
Tel: +44(0)131 557 0050
Email: Marketing
www.stjamesshopping.com

 

For media enquiries please contact:

Trade, national and international media

Andy Konieczko
Halogen
Email: Andy Konieczko
Tel: +44(0)20 7087 3260

Scottish and Edinburgh media
 

Richard Bright
Weber Shandwick
Email: Richard Bright
Tel: +44(0)131 556 6649