THE new owner and developer of Waverley Mall in Edinburgh has unveiled plans for a revamp of the shopping centre.

The Moorgarth Group has submitted proposals for the mall, designed to revitalise the existing roof space and create a new market-style piazza and "natural meeting place", to Edinburgh City Council.

The Herald:

A new entrance is also at the corner of Princes Street and Waverley Bridge which will be created enabling full disabled access, better circulation at the top of Waverley Steps and a doubling of the width of the pavement travelling west towards the Scott Monument.

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Tim Vaughan, chef executive of Moorgarth, which has offices in London and Leeds, said: “Along with the improved roof space, the new entrance and the widening of the pavement on Princes Street are all about establishing a greater sense of arrival into Edinburgh that utilises its unique and very important location."

Waverley Mall began life as the Waverley Market, a Victorian structure which pre-dated the neighbouring Balmoral Hotel and housed many independent fruit and vegetable retailers.

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The market’s cast iron structure was built in the latter half of the nineteenth century and supported a roof garden above, level with Princes Street.

Over time the space had various uses, playing host to many exhibitions and events through the twentieth century, including car shows and even the circus.

By the 1970s the structure had become unfit to support the gardens above and the market had to be demolished.

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In its place the new, modern Waverley Market was opened in 1984, with popular high street retailers taking the place of the fruit and veg vendors.

This rebuild provides the basic skeleton for the building which still houses the shopping centre to this day.

Since then the mall has undergone several re-brands, being known as the Waverley Shopping Centre, Princes Mall and finally Waverley Mall.