Fears as city loses green land the size of 15 football fields a year

‘Increases the risk of flooding’

SCOTLAND’S capital is losing green land equivalent to 15 football pitches a year, say researchers.

Edinburgh is losing 28 acres annually, which severely increases the risk of flooding, according to the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH).

Most of the green space is lost as gardens are paved over and built on, a practice referred to as ‘urban creep’.

This can raise the risk of flooding as rainwater can no longer be absorbed by open land.

Dr Clare Rowland, who led the research, claimed building car parking spaces, conservatories and extended driveways has contributed to the problem.

It accounts for 15.8 acres a year, while new housing and industrial estates, described as ‘urban expansion’, takes away another 11.9 acres of green space.

CEH project manager Dr James Miller said: ‘The loss of previous green land increases the risk of localised surface water flooding as it creates more runoff that can exceed the drainage capacity.’

SEPA flood risk management senior policy officer Kirsten Thorburn said: ‘We need to take action based on good evidence and projects such as this help to improve our understanding of the causes of flooding in Scotland.’

Scientists analysed the city’s mass urbanisation by taking aerial photographs in 1990, 2005 and 2015 to show the growing absence of greenery.

Green councillor Gavin Corbett said: ‘More gardens are being given over to driveways, or gardens are simply being hard-landscaped. Rainfall is becoming more frequent and heavier, with water running off to already choked gullies rather than being soaked up by trees, earth and grass.’

Council leader Adam McVey said: ‘We are taking a long look at this new research.

‘Our existing policies aim to ensure that new developments have sustainable urban drainage to minimise surface water run-off. Works like domestic driveways require planning permission if drainage issues are in any way highlighted.’