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St Andrew’s housing project polarises opinion

St Andrew’s housing project polarises opinion

June 15 2015

A newly completed housing development in St Andrew’s has stirred local passions with opinions polarising as to the merits of the design.

West Burn Lane is in line for both a RIAS Award and Saltire Housing Award later this month after judges praised the ‘graceful insertion’ for respecting the historic ‘rigg’ patter of backland developments separated by narrow alleyways and closes.

St Andrews Community Council has taken a different view of the 14 home development however, stating that ‘the only award this should be shortlisted for is Carbuncle of the Year.’

These sentiments were shared by Graham Wynd, chairman of the St Andrews Preservation Trust who said the ‘industrial’ brickwork detracted from the conservation area and projected too far into the lane.

RIAS Award winners will be announced on 17 June with the Saltire Awards following on 22 June.

Photography by Keith Hunter

Eastacre Investments completed the scheme following an architectural design contest

Just three townhouses remain unsold at the development, each with a price tag of £875k

4 Comments

#1 Posted by David on 15 Jun 2015 at 12:30 PM

I suspect that there is another agenda being played out here given the dramatic over-exaggeration of the criticism.

I see no 'industrial' brickwork, only a sensitive richly textured modern response to the secondary rough stonework on the other side of the lane. Both seem to have a fairly similar approach to how their building line respects the lane too.

I get frustrated when 'Preservation Trusts' bang on about detracting from conservation areas, when most of said areas are a tapestry of 'once modern' buildings of all eras. St. Andrews especially.

Very nice, and no wonder they are selling well despite the hefty price tags.