City leaders’ hopes...
Climate change, transport, new schools and housing to the fore
Climate change has dominated the news headlines for much of 2021. COP26 was the most important event hosted in these islands in recent time, trying to avoid climate disaster and secure our planet’s future.
While it took place in Glasgow, we did all we could as a council and as Scotland’s capital city to ensure we were on the pitch, supporting and playing as full a part as possible in the global conference. During the year Edinburgh also became the only city in Scotland to be awarded with the highest rating for climate action, in recognition of the steps the council is taking to manage the capital’s environmental impact.
In 2022 Edinburgh will continue to work towards our Net Zero 2030 ambition. The 2030 Climate Strategy for the city was launched last month.This policy will act as a living document, will guide our greener, fairer, climate ready future for the city and is supported by an implementation plan to achieve Edinburgh’s ambitious climate goals. It also sets out how we will measure outcomes and impact. Our environmental impact work is underway and along with any changes to the strategy, will be given further consideration in 2022.
CLLR CAMMY DAY
We are living through very challenging times. But, working with the local community, great progress is being made to deliver our £1.3 billion project for one of the most sustainable, vibrant new coastal towns in Scotland at Granton Waterfront.
Last year, in partnership with Edinburgh College, we illuminated the gas holder as a beacon of light while work progresses in the area. It was great news that we have been awarded £16.5 million UK Government levelling up funding to help to restore the B-listed structure and create an exciting public space.
Spades are very much in the ground. Councillors have given us the green light to progress plans for phase one of the development and delivery of initial projects including Western Villages with around 388 much needed affordable homes and 56 homes for sale. Work to restore the Edwardian Granton Station to become a creative and cultural hub is underway and social enterprise charity WASPS will move in this summer to operate it. Looking forward to 2022 progress already looks encouraging. We are on track to secure planning permission for around a further 217 affordable homes at Silverlea behind Granton Station.
This well-connected and environmentally friendly regeneration project is one of the seven strategic development sites in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal and will help us to be net zero carbon by 2030.
CLLR LESLEY MACINNES
As we look beyond the pandemic, our next challenge will be the increasingly urgent threat posed by climate change. Thankfully, work is underway to address this, and with motor traffic making a significant impact on our carbon footprint, looking at how we travel around the capital is vital.
Our City Mobility Plan sets out a comprehensive, ten-year plan to deliver a truly sustainable, connected transport system. We’re already making strides with several of the actions planned to boost public transport use, encourage walking, wheeling and cycling and cut congestion, amongst other outcomes.
Trams to Newhaven is taking shape and by the end of this year will begin test runs along the route. In February we unveiled striking designs for the transformation of George Street. In the coming weeks we’ll be breaking ground on the City Centre West to East Link, the biggest piece of cycling infrastructure the city has seen.
As we move into 2022, we’ll be looking to the future of Travelling S afely schemes, and how we can extend their lifespan. We’re hoping to introduce our ambitious Low Emission Zone in the spring, and will begin the installation of electric vehicle charging points for residents around the city.
These are just a few of our ambitious plans for the future, which will benefit residents in the next year, and for generations to come.
CLLR IAN PERRY
The impact of the pandemic has never been more starkly felt than by our young people and their families across the city. We have continued with learning and teaching thanks to the fantastic efforts of all the staff working in our schools who have gone above and beyond.
They have been given amazing support by so many other teams in the Council including their Lifelong Learning Service and Social
Work colleagues – it’s been a real Team Edinburgh effort.
It is so important for our children to equip them with the skills they will need for later life. Our investment in new schools and educational settings will gather pace in 2022 despite the effects of the pandemic on the construction industry. We have new or replacement schools due to open at Castlebrae, St Crispin’s, Victoria Primary, and Canaan Lane, in addition to major works at Darroch and Boroughmuir.
This activity is all part of our financial commitment as part of Edinburgh’s ambitious new school building programme which includes more than £500 million planned investment over the next decade.