Thursday October 22nd 2026
Princes Street Gardens (photo by Stuart Hay)
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A new community group has been formed in Edinburgh to give residents a voice in decisions affecting Princes Street Gardens and campaign for the protection of the popular city-centre green space.
Formed in August with the aim to ‘facilitate community action and express community voice’ in decisions around the action and protection of the gardens, Friends of Princes Street Gardens hosted a public meeting on Tuesday in Edinburgh’s City Chambers which showed strong support from the public and Edinburgh councillors and council officers.
With Princes Street, Waverley Valley and the gardens returning to the centre of local politics in recent months, plans to improve access and facilities which stalled during covid are being re-examined and new proposals have been made in light of new funding available through the Edinburgh Visitor Levy.
In response to these developments, Friends of Princes Street Gardens aims to ensure the community has a say in the future of the gardens, bringing residents together to discuss proposals, raise concerns and help shape decisions about the historic green space.
Chair of the organization, Simon Holledge told the Midlothian View:
“Princes Street Gardens were the last major park in Edinburgh — and the most important — without a community organisation. We want to address that. Timing is also important as we are about to see significant improvements to Princes Street Gardens in terms of access and facilities.”
Discussing the effects large scale events can have on the gardens, Simon expressed that he hopes the new organisation can participate in discussions about management.
“The number and scale of events in West Princes Street Gardens have been controversial in the past”, he explained, “We obviously hope to participate in discussions about future management. Ideally the interests of both users of the gardens and event-goers should be considered”.
Tuesday’s event at the City Chamber saw keynote speakers such as Professor Richard Rodger from Edinburgh University, Professor Cliff Hague from Heriot-Watt University and Conservative Councillor Jo Mowat alongside Linda Anglin of ‘Thriving Greenspaces’ project, representing the City of Edinburgh Council.
Friends of Princes Street Gardens meeting on Tuesday at Edinburgh's City Chambers
Drawing in a large group, the meeting saw strong support with local residents expressing their commitment to the preservation of the gardens.
Describing the meeting as a ‘red letter day’, Councillor Jo Mowat explained:
“Edinburgh owes much of its conservation success to the hard work of residents – this Friends’ with its determination to support the gardens is part of this proud tradition – from Lord Cockburn to the resident-led conservation groups who did so much to save the New and Old Towns in the 20th century.
“The Gardens are a vital part of the city’s World Heritage inscription and a precious and much loved space by residents of the city and visitors alike. Residents have expressed alarm over some of the development during the Christmas markets and having a formal group which can work with all the interested parties to preserve and enhance this space for future generations is both welcome and necessary.”
Debate over how Princes Street Gardens should be used and protected is not new, with previous development proposals and the expansion of major events in the city centre prompting questions about how best to balance tourism, commercial interests and public access to the historic green space.
In 2015, hotel businessman Norman Springford, founder of Apex Hotels, put forward plans for a new concert and events arena to replace the ageing Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens. The proposed £25 million overhaul, later developed as the Quaich Project, included a new performance space, visitor facilities and an amphitheatre with capacity for up to 5,000 people.
An artist’s impression of the proposed Quaich Project redevelopment of West Princes Street Gardens, including a new performance space and landscaped public areas.
The plans faced opposition from heritage and community groups concerned about the scale of development and the potential impact on the gardens. In 2018, councillors put proposals to transfer management of the gardens to an arms-length organisation on hold, insisting that the space should remain a publicly accessible common good asset.
Concerns over commercial use of the gardens intensified in 2019, when the Christmas market expanded its infrastructure in East Princes Street Gardens. The Cockburn Association raised questions about planning permission for structures erected for the event, while damage to grassed areas and the length of time the gardens were closed to the public prompted further criticism.
In January 2020, Edinburgh councillors paused consideration of the Quaich Project’s business case amid calls for greater transparency and concerns about the potential over-commercialisation of public space. The project was subsequently reviewed and delayed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The long-running debate has highlighted the challenge of balancing investment and events that attract visitors to Edinburgh with the need to protect the gardens as a historic public space for residents and visitors alike.
Friends of Princes Street Gardens hopes to establish itself as a point of contact between residents, the council and other organisations involved in decisions about the gardens.
With Edinburgh caught between the need to evolve and the responsibility to preserve its historic heritage and iconic landmarks, the future of Princes Street Gardens remains a key part of the wider debate over how the capital should develop with Friends of Princes Street Gardens aiming to be at the forefront of action between residents and the proposals affecting the green space.
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