Alternative vision of Princes Street ..minus the mall

The scheme would see the demolition of some of the ugliest buildings on the street, possibly as many as 12. Other heritage bodies, leading architects, chartered surveyors and council chiefs are already involved in the idea.

It is hoped the scheme will win formal city council backing and stop the controversial Galleries project to build an underground arcade in East Princes Street Gardens, which was drawn up by arms-length council firm EDI Group and Dutch developer MAB.

The Cockburn Association said it had had a favourable response to its initial ideas from city council leader Donald Anderson.

Talks are planned between backers of the scheme and senior council planners within the next few weeks, when owners of buildings on Princes Street are also expected to be sounded out. Draft proposals for "three or four" major retail developments will be revealed in January, with a public exhibition expected to follow shortly thereafter.

Cockburn Association officials - fierce critics of the Galleries scheme - said they wanted their proposals to supersede the underground mall plan and stir a "public debate" on the future of Princes Street and its Gardens. It is understood the proposals would generate around half a million square feet of extra retail space by expanding the areas available between Princes Street and Rose Street.

The Galleries scheme took a major step forward this week when Edinburgh-based Allan Murray Architects was chosen to design the arcade. However, the Cockburn Association and Edinburgh World Heritage Trust claimed the revised plans - an earlier move to build the underground mall beneath the whole of Princes Street was rejected after a public inquiry - would ruin the look of the city centre.

Cockburn Association director Martin Hulse said the project was aimed at offering a "realistic alternative" to the Galleries scheme.

"Princes Street is currently a bit of a tip. We don’t see any reason why as many as 12 buildings can’t go if three or four top-quality retail developments go in their place."

He said Cllr Anderson had been "extremely positive" when he and Mr Fraser had given him a presentation and agreed to help set up a meeting with planning officers.

Cllr Anderson said: "Some of the more modern concrete buildings on Princes Street are pretty horrible. The more options that we have on the table the better."

Mr Fraser said he aimed to lift retail standards in the city with a major revamp of Princes Street.

"We want to attract large retailers into large flagship stores. Princes Street has the best retail context in the world. It’s unparalleled."

Mr Fraser refused to comment on the Galleries scheme, but insisted both projects could "co-exist".

Lezley Cameron, the city’s economic development leader and chairwoman of EDI, said she was unwilling to comment on the Cockburn Association’s proposals as she had not been briefed on them.

However, she added she was "disappointed" the new Galleries scheme had come in for so much criticism this week.

"Princes Street doesn’t belong to the Cockburn Association and it doesn’t belong to either EDI or MAB. It belongs to the people of Edinburgh," she said.