Democratic Debate or Empty Ritual? The Planning Hearing for Edinburgh's New Concert Hall 1

This chapter presents an analysis of a planning hearing for a new concert hall in Edinburgh, designed by David Chipperfield Architects. It examines the hearing as a ritual but argues that this does not lead to the decision to approve the building being a foregone conclusion. Through analysis of the event and interviews with the protagonists, and through tracing the theme of concrete within the debate, it is argued that the discussion that takes place here is open-ended, without particular reference to regulatory guidance. The findings suggest that regulation as practice involves a wide range of debates and influences in a varied and unpredictable mix.