Comment
2020: A year of ‘choices’ for Edinburgh
With the context for planning and development changing markedly in 2019 for Edinburgh, Head of Planning, Scotland, Colin Smith explores what 2020 looks like for the city.
Climate change and related aspects of policy formulation are now very much at the forefront, with the Scottish Government declaring a climate emergency, and the healthy rivalry between City of Edinburgh Council and Glasgow City Council to be ‘net zero carbon’ by 2030. In Edinburgh, in particular, the scale of policy thinking and rate of change has been ambitious and is accelerating, with the 2050 City Vision having been consulted on and the Draft City Mobility Plan, Local Development Plan Choices and the West Edinburgh Inclusive Growth Strategy all being taken forward in parallel. A carbon neutral, low emission, sustainable and inclusive city is the new (foot/cycle) path the city is on.
The pace of change, and challenge, in the world of policy are matched by the pace of change and delivery of development in the built environment, with all key sectors experiencing high demand and strong growth. 2020 will see the much anticipated opening of Edinburgh St James (ESJ), a project that is delivering a scale and quality of redevelopment, regeneration and renewal in the city centre that is unmatched in recent decades. It is driving dynamic change across the city centre and its fringes, as evidenced by the concentration of new development on its periphery, including the new Gleneagles Club, The Registers and the recently opened Malmaison, hopefully to be joined by the new Dunard Centre concert hall. The Johnnie Walker Experience at the west end of Princes St will help to balance the scale of growth around St Andrew Square. These are all projects which we have had a role in delivering in a range of ways.
The dynamic change set in train by ESJ has driven a relaxation in planning policy along Princes St that will allow the repurposing of up to a third of the street for alternate uses, delivering new active uses at ground floor and better use of upper floors; opening up opportunities for new hotels to enhance the already diverse hotel offer in the city. The Old Town is also experiencing rapid change and growth with New Waverley, Edinburgh Futures Institute and the Virgin Hotel all well progressed towards delivery. Elsewhere, Build-to-Rent developments in the private rented sector have grown in number and scale over the year across the city centre and in Leith, with this growth continuing into 2020.
We are pleased to be at the forefront of rapid growth and redevelopment across the city with involvement in projects across strategic growth areas including the city centre, West Edinburgh, South-East/Bioquarter and Leith/Waterfront.
However, the city is not without its challenges. Despite its growing, indeed accelerating success, large parts of the city’s population do not feel the benefits of this, hence the focus of new policy formulation on inclusive and sustainable growth.
In Edinburgh, 12 months is a long time in planning and much can, and is, changing. Going forward from here, developments which acknowledge the new agenda and help the city meet these challenges will succeed. Those that do not will have a much cooler reception than in even the very recent past.
The city is growing and attracting investment, people, new homes, places of work, hotels and businesses at what feels like an ever accelerating pace across all sectors. Indeed it is setting the agenda for city growth in many ways, both in the UK and further afield. What is important going forward, for resident, visitor and investor alike, is that the benefits of growth are more widely spread and felt.
For more information, please contact Colin Smith.
14 February 2020