PUBLIC REALM
Henderson Global Investors (HGI) has produced this fact sheet to provide you with information about the £850 million proposals for St James, Edinburgh. An outline planning application, accompanied by an illustrative masterplan, has been submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council.
THE CURRENT SITE
The existing public realm is poor, fragmented and uninviting, particularly around New St Andrew’s House.
The new St James Quarter will enhance and create strong links and connections to the wider city with a family of intimate squares and spaces.
A series of connecting public spaces will encourage visitors to walk through the St James Quarter from different directions to access the Galleria, hotels, homes, offices, cafés and restaurants.
The key public realm proposed on the St James site is:
- A continental-style public square adjoining the Galleria, located near the existing St James Square
- Covered urban space within the Galleria
- A new upper level garden
- A piazza to the east of Register House
- Open space at Little King Street
- Remodelled Cathedral Square
A NEW DESTINATION
Distinctive new buildings will be home to cafés and restaurants at lower levels, spilling out onto public spaces such as the new St James Square.
Each of the proposed streets and squares will have a distinct character, each with different uses to enliven them and create
a sense of place.
With car parking and servicing located underground, the St James Quarter will place a greater emphasis on the needs of pedestrians, with the public realm creating a new destination within the city, possessing its own character and appeal.
