The Edinburgh Reporter January 2023

8 NEWS

By PHYLLIS STEPHEN

THE CITY OF EDINBURGH Council’s

proposed City Plan 2030 was approved by the

Planning Committee, moving it on to the next

stage when it is sent to the Scottish

Government for examination.This is part of a

statutory process which has already taken years

and there is no ‘long stop’ date for the

government to give its final approval.

The Planning Convener, Cllr James

Dalgleish has been in his job for seven months,

and is picking up the City Plan very much at

the end of the process.

The Plan directs development by maximising

the use of brownfield rather than greenfield

land. Asked if the city has enough brownfield

sites within the city boundary to provide the

new homes Edinburgh needs, Cllr Dalgleish

replied: “When officers are creating these plans

and when we are scrutinising them, we cannot

put in over-estimations. There have to be

realistic targets, so we are confident that we

have enough land. We don’t want to start

building on the greenbelt, some of the most

beautiful parts of the city. It is important we

keep it natural and the way it is.”

The Plan has new provisions for student

accommodation. But as to whether there would

be a point when any new permissions for

student accommodation would stop, Dalgleish

agreed that this had been a hot topic.

He said: “It is not just student

accommodation versus housing. One of the

new policies in the City Plan is that if a

development is brought forward for student

accommodation on land area larger than 0.

hectare then 50% of that has to be housing, and

at least 35% of that has to be affordable

housing.It is about getting the balance right.

There are on the one hand many foreign

students living in Edinburgh, but we also have

a housing shortage.”

When the councillors on the Development

Sub-Committee consider applications for

purpose built student accommodation there is

a mechanism under which they have to look at

any other student developments within an 800

metre radius. Dalgleish is hopeful that the

policy will become more effective with more

information from the new 2011 census and will

lead to a better balance.

The new buzzword in planning circles is the

creation of the 20 minute neighbourhood,

meaning that people should be able to fulfil all

their basic needs within a 20 minute return

journey from their front door.

Cllr Dalgleish is very supportive of the new

policy which was also one of the desires set out

in Edinburgh Labour’s 2022 manifesto. He said:

“I think that is the way our neighbourhoods

should be set up - densely populated, but with a

good mix of neighbourhoods, with local

businesses, public services, and good access to

transport links as well.

“An example of what we’re aiming to achieve

is underway at Granton Waterfront where we’re

strengthening the existing neighbourhood with

a £1.3 billion project to develop a sustainable

20-minute neighbourhood residents will be

proud of. It will be an area where people live in

affordable environmentally friendly homes,

have excellent transport and active travel links

and access to lots of open and green space, arts,

sports and culture.”

All documents submitted for examination by

the council will be available to review on the

Scottish Government DPEA website from early

2023 and a copy of the approved Proposed Plan

is now available in Edinburgh Council libraries

and at the reception in the City Chambers.

By PHYLLIS STEPHEN

FRANK ROSS, Corstorphine/Murrayfield

ward councillor since 2012 has resigned.

The news of the immediate departure of

the former Lord Provost was revealed after

the December council meeting, although

Mr Ross told The Edinburgh Reporter that

some four days after intimating his

resignation to the council’s Chief Executive,

Andrew Kerr, he had not yet received a

formal response. He also confirmed that he

remains a member of the SNP.

In his final appearance, Cllr Ross spoke in

support of a proposed financial package to

be offered to traders in Roseburn adversely

affected by major roadworks.

The SNP were not alone in supporting a

package of compensation for the traders

(some of whom have campaigned against

the need for safer cycling infrastructure for

almost a decade), as the Conservatives and

Liberal Democrats also demanded

compensation for the small businesses.

POLITICS AND NUMBERS

It came down to politics and numbers.

When the Labour group supported the

Greens the possibility of any payments for

loss of business being made was again lost.

In March 2022 the SNP (then part of the

administration) did not agree to the

traders’ who claimed losses of up to 70%.

In December the party changed its stance

in a dizzying U-turn, largely driven by Cllr

Ross trying to fulfil his commitment to the

businesses in his ward, but the SNP move

was defeated.

Cllr Ross said he was delighted that

council officers had found a potential

source of funding that would not

negatively impact other council projects.

He also pointed out that a proven way of

working used for paying Leith Walk traders

during the tram scheme meant there was

already a team within the council with the

expertise to deal with any applications for

such compensation.

But after voting the SNP’s own

addendum fell. The group then abstained

rather than voting in favour of the LibDem

and Conservative position - which was in

essence the same as its own except for a

few split hairs. There will be a by-election

in the Corstorphine/Murrayfield ward

which is now represented by Cllrs Alan

Beal and Euan Davidson, both LibDems.

TEENS+ OFFICIALLY opened

its new premises at Eskmills in

Musselburgh with a party.

Simon Pearce-Madge the Head

of Service said that the newly

fitted out premises will extend

its transitional education

programme to 20 students in

time. At present Teens+ has

become Living Wage accredited

with18 new members of staff.

Colin Beattie MSP said the

new building exceeded his

expectations and Cllr Shamin

Akhtar commented on the

caring, nurturing environment

created for both students

and staff.

Student Mercedes said: “I am

beginning to feel at home here.”

Ross quits after

Roseburn bid fails

Cllr Frank Ross

was Lord Provost

until 2022

The Planning Convener talks about the progress of the City Plan

Lining up for 2030

Teens+ open their third base

L-to-R: Cllr Shamin Akhtar, Colin Beattie MSP, Gail Burden CEO

of Capella and Simon Pearce-Madge Teens+ Head of Service

Cllr James

Dalgleish