▁under ▁construction . ▁The ▁existing ▁ 1 9 7 3 ▁building ▁has ▁been ▁completely ▁demol ished ▁to ▁make ▁way ▁for ▁a ▁three - store y , ▁glass - ro of ed , ▁cres cent - sh aped ▁building ▁designed ▁by ▁All an ▁Murray ▁Arch itect s . ▁Edinburgh ▁City ▁Council ▁pl ann ers ▁gave ▁the ▁plans ▁appro val ▁in ▁July ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁despite ▁ob jections ▁from ▁conservation ▁groups ▁concerned ▁about ▁the ▁possible ▁impact ▁on ▁the ▁city ' s ▁World ▁Heritage ▁status . ▁ ▁Const ruction ▁work ▁was ▁expected ▁to ▁start ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁and ▁it ▁was ▁anticip ated ▁the ▁ret ail ▁elements ▁would ▁be ▁completed ▁by ▁late ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁but ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁demol ition ▁was ▁delayed ▁with ▁all ▁sh ops ▁in ▁the ▁existing ▁centre ▁continu ing ▁to ▁trade ▁in ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 6 . ▁ ▁In ▁November ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁it ▁was ▁reported ▁that ▁the ▁centre ▁would ▁close ▁in ▁late ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁and ▁that ▁an ▁agreement ▁had ▁been ▁reached ▁with ▁the ▁John ▁Lewis , ▁with ▁the ▁store ▁remain ▁open ▁throughout ▁work ▁on ▁the ▁scheme ▁and ▁a ▁ref urb ished ▁department ▁store ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁finished ▁St ▁James ▁development . ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 5 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁the ▁Edinburgh ▁Even ing ▁News ▁reported ▁that ▁the ▁St ▁James ▁Centre ▁would ▁close ▁its ▁doors ▁on ▁Sunday ▁ 1 6 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁with ▁demol ition ▁work ▁to ▁begin