The Scotsman

The Prince of Wales has warned that the Scottish capital is at risk from becoming a "clone" city and losing its status as a beacon of excellence if it does not seek to address "shortsighted commercialism". Speaking at a conference organised by Edinburgh World Heritage, the prince urged developers and conservation bodies to work together to soften the impact of new buildings on the city's historic heritage. "There is a real and present risk that, in the drive to make Edinburgh a world city in the commercial sense, we make it more and more like just any other city in the world, and in so doing, diminish its status as a beacon of excellence in architecture and urbanism and indeed enlightenment," said Prince Charles. However, he also stressed it would be a mistake to erect a "cordon sanitaire" around the city centre and retreat within it. The capital, he said, should be regarded as a model for new development elsewhere, not just in Scotland, but across the world, from the US to Russia.