Planning news
The council has published the final concept design for the George Street and First New Town project (GNT).
This proposes to remove traffic from George Street and convert it to the wide boulevard that it once was. The public engagement carried out in March conveyed broad support for the plans which include wider pavements on both sides, greening and landscaping, and the creation of a cycling street. There will be no buses travelling along - they will instead stop on the side streets, although those with blue badges will be allowed limited access. The council now moves on through the long process to bring this to fruition, with development of the operational plan taking into account comments from Edinburgh World Heritage, Essential Edinburgh, the George Street Association and cycling campaigners, SPOKES. The plans sit within the City Centre Transformation scheme and will be linked to other active travel routes being created from The Meadows to George Street and the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL). The latter has been planned for almost a decade, so do not expect the changes to be made soon. Much paper has to be pushed before the council achieves its aim of a car-free city centre by 2030.
WEST CRAIGS NORTH MASTERPLAN
An application for Planning Permission in Principle has been submitted for West Craigs North masterplan by Edinburgh-based Yeoman McAllister Architects. This is the piece of land lying to the north of Craigs Road. The proposal is to build more than 500 homes with 50% affordable homes delivered by Dunedin Canmore Housing Association, a retail unit, public park and active travel routes.
This is the area where the council proposed to introduce a Low Traffic Neighbourhood under Spaces for People plans, but had to abandon that in the face of opposition.
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION
An application has been lodged for permission to build student accommodation just north of Haymarket Yards. The plans show a stepped building with part of it comprising seven storeys, and a roof terrace on the lower part which will be four storeys high.