City Plan 2030 halts further expansion

Edinburgh to concentrate on brownfield city developments

EDINBURGH CITY boundary will not be extended in the new City Plan 2030 which is now published for six week statutory consultation. This means that when it is finally adopted the plan will only allow brownfield development within the city for any new schemes. It accords with the council's transport strategies and the move to develop 20 minute neighbourhoods.

These are areas where people can access all their main needs - education, doctors' surgeries, chemists, and shopping within a 20 minute walk there and back. It is a relatively new concept adopted in many European cities. The council's Planning Convener, Cllr Neil Gardiner recognises that developers and house builders may resist the move, but he is adamant that the city cannot grow any more than it has already.

Cllr Gardiner said: "This development plan can recalibrate how development happens in this city, positively shaping how our capital grows and changes over the next 10 years and beyond. Rather than growing forever outwards, the proposed plan focuses on developing new communities on brownfield land which mix living, working and leisure uses. These locations utilise and add to already existing infrastructure. This plan is about us as a city collectively making the right decisions now so that our residents can make reasonable and informed choices about how and where they live and how they get around in the future.

"City Plan 2030 has been developed taking on board the views of residents, businesses, and other stakeholders from across the city to help us meet our core priorities for Edinburgh: making Edinburgh a sustainable city, which supports everyone's wellbeing and enables our residents to access homes they can afford. The plan also facilitates travel options and networks so that residents won't have to own a car to move around, while having every opportunity to share in their city's success.

"Our proposal of mixed-use communities in the plan aligns to Scottish Government's 20-minute neighbourhood vision, which is especially relevant now as the global pandemic continues to make massive changes to the way people live their lives - including how we all use and appreciate green spaces with the health and wellbeing benefits they bring.”