Three leading Edinburgh business organisations have urged councillors to end years of delays over plans to transform George Street, as the council considers a scaled-back £20 million redevelopment.
Essential Edinburgh, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and the George Street Association have joined forces to demand progress on the long-awaited overhaul of one of the capital’s most famous shopping and hospitality streets.
Their intervention comes ahead of a crucial council meeting on 12 November, when councillors will consider revised proposals that could dramatically reduce the cost of the project.
The latest plans would see the estimated cost fall from £34.8 million to just under £20 million, with proposed trees removed, natural stone road paving replaced by asphalt and changes made to the number and design of bollards.
The original scheme was intended to transform George Street into a more pedestrian-friendly public space, with improved cycling facilities, wider pavements and landscaped areas.
Detailed plans were approved in July 2025, following years of consultation with businesses, residents and other organisations.
However, the future of the project was thrown into doubt in February when councillors put plans to allocate £31.75 million from Edinburgh’s new visitor levy on hold.
The council’s Labour-led administration accepted an amendment seeking a wider approach to city centre improvements, including investment in neighbouring Princes Street.
Business leaders now say George Street should not face further delays after a decade of planning and investment.
In a joint letter to the council’s transport and environment committee, the three organisations argue that the project should be supported using money raised through the visitor levy.
William Duncan, chairman of the George Street Association, said it was now “make your mind up time” for the council, arguing that there was widespread business support for the redevelopment.
He added that there was “no rational reason to delay a decision to proceed.”
Denzil Skinner, chairman of Essential Edinburgh, welcomed the opportunity to use visitor levy funding to improve the New Town’s public spaces and urged councillors to support the proposals.
Liz Dalton, chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said the transformation of George Street should continue the ambition shown by those who designed Edinburgh’s New Town in the 18th century.
The redevelopment forms part of the wider George Street and First New Town project, which also includes improvements to Castle Street, Frederick Street and Hanover Street.
City of Edinburgh Council has said the revised proposals reflect the need to control costs while improving transport links across the city centre.
The recent fire on Princes Street, which caused significant disruption to public transport, has also highlighted the need to make the city’s transport network more resilient.
The council says the George Street project remains central to its plans for the city centre, while acknowledging the difficult financial environment facing the local authority.
Councillors will consider how approximately £31 million of visitor levy funding should be allocated between George Street, Princes Street and other public realm improvements at the transport and environment committee on Thursday 12 November.