The council announced yesterday that Edinburgh's status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is safe. Two advisers to UNESCO's World Heritage Committee were in Edinburgh from Wednesday to Saturday to review Edinburgh's status in light of controversial plans for development of the historic Old Town and New Town.
The advisers were looking at, in particular, the £300 million Old Town developement in the Caltongate, the Haymarket Tiger Development, Leith Docks and the new St James Centre.
Jim Lowrie, The City of Edinburgh Council's Planning Committee convener, said: "We are immensely proud Edinburgh's heritage and of our World Heritage status which enhances our reputation as a great place to live, work, visit and to study.
"Although we have always been confident of Edinburgh's continuing status as a World Heritage Site we are obviously delighted with this endorsement from UNESCO. We believe that both heritage and development contribute to a fantastic quality of life in Edinburgh. I am delighted that the UNESCO team have seen for themselves just how much we value our heritage and how much emphasis we put on striking the right balance."