Following extensive consultation, the examination of CEC’s new Local Development Plan (City Plan 2030) by the Scottish Government’s Reporter has finally been concluded and the good news is that the suggested revisions and adjustments are not as wide-ranging as some
had feared, or expected.
For West Edinburgh in particular there are welcome clarifications on the locations for town and local centres to underpin the 20-minute Neighbourhood principle, an acknowledgment of the need for further guidance on infrastructure delivery through additional Supplementary Guidance and a recognition that the Strategic Business Centre boundary should be amended to include the Crosswind site.
There is further detail on how the potential diversion of the Gogar Burn will be managed through the West Edinburgh Placemaking Framework, supported by consultation with SEPA and confirmation that a road parallel to the railway line would be the preferred outcome.
Overall the Reporter identified a number of adjustments to provide closer alignment with NPF4, which came into effect after City Plan 2030 was drafted and, as might have been expected, there has been further work on the calculations for housing demand and supply. To support the 2034 target of 36,750 new homes (all-tenure) a number of site allocations have been defined as ‘opportunity sites’ recognising challenges to their deliverability in the short term.
Connectivity between sites is a heightened priority as is an emphasis on flood risk assessments for coastal sites in particular.
All things considered the recommendations are welcomed and should contribute to the robustness of City Plan 2030 as the key tool to shape the development of Edinburgh for the coming years.
Following the adjustments the revised City Plan 2030 will hopefully be approved by CEC in June paving the way for some planning decisions soon after.
