Tag: Local Info

15 Sep 2026: Southside Community Council has published a proposed Local Place Plan for Southside. A link to ‘Southside 2040’ is here: Southside CC Local Place Plan Sep 2026

Southside 2040 is presented as input to the City Council’s ‘City Plan 2040’. It also sets out surveyed community priorities for the area.

“The plan sets out a vision for Southside in 2040, built on what we take to be the forces that will shape the area over the coming years: the University’s use of its land, the affordability of housing and the pressure from student accommodation and short-term letting, adaptation to a changing climate, a visitor economy that should sustain the community rather than displace it, and Southside’s position as a route through the city as well as a place to live.

Five themes follow from it: homes for a settled community; a liveable, well-connected neighbourhood; a greener, climate-ready Southside; a living community and local culture; and a real community voice with the University. Dumbiedykes, where these play out differently, is read through all five in a chapter of its own. Under those themes the plan sets out 31 planning proposals, gathered in a single schedule at section 7, and records 39 community priorities, listed together at section 8.

Representations on the content of the proposed plan should be sent to Southside Community Council by email to lpp@sccedinburgh.org.uk. They should reach us by Tuesday 13 October, which is 28 days from the date of this notice.”

Find out more at http://www.sccedinburgh.org.uk/lpp

14 Apr 2026: Southside Community Council is working on a Local Place Plan (LPP) and is inviting residents of Southside and neighbouring areas to get involved. A LPP is a community-group driven initiative to come up with ideas on local ‘place’ and ‘space’ that can be adopted in the city’s next Local Development Plan. This will be City Plan 2040 and it will guide, in a lot of detail, the future shape and development of the city, focused on, but not limited to, the built environment. To get a reference point, take a look at City Plan 2030. It’s an impressive document. https://planningedinburgh.com/2024/11/07/city-plan-2030-now-adopted/

At this point, the Southside LPP is in its early stages. There are two ways to begin exploring. There is a short online survey (around 10 minutes) covering housing, streets and spaces, and community amenities and there is an interactive map where people can pin comments and suggestions to specific locations in the neighbourhood. Then, on Saturday, 9 May, Southside Community Council will host another community workshop, from 1–3pm at Southside Community Centre. Here is the link to attend the workshop:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1984515693862?aff=oddtdtcreator

GPCC hasn’t engaged in a LPP exercise itself, although other neighbouring community councils do have the heads down. Locally, the Grange Association has had an involvement with a LPP drawn up for the future development of the Astley Ainslie site. LPPs are hosted by the Council’s Planning Department and they will be submitted there in September 2026. Around that time, they will be shared publicly for further consultation and comment. Do look out for that, then.

Planning Department will also issue ‘Calls for Ideas’ around that time, inviting you to chip in with small scale suggestions for improvements to neighbourhood green space, open space, design features, safety issues or mobility hazards. This is about what you ‘care about, like, don’t like’ or feel ‘could be better’. It is not about building a master plan.

For those of you who want to take a close look at the LPP concept, go to this Council link:

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/local-development-plan-guidance-1/local-place-plans

The GIS Atlas feature is worth examining. The ‘Layer List’ feature at the top RHS needs some patience, though.

29 June 2026: After many months of hard work by the Local Place Plan subcommittee, on behalf of Morningside Community Council, I am delighted to share the proposed Morningside Local Place Plan. As you represent an area that falls within or adjoins the proposed Local Place Plan area, we are sharing the Plan with you as part of the statutory consultation process.

You can view the draft here:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=941f5825cc&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1869336877028578228&th=19f137fc48d393b4&view=att&zw&disp=safe

The Place Plan covers the Morningside area and has been developed following extensive community engagement. It sets out the community’s shared vision and priorities for the future of the area.

In accordance with the Local Place Plan regulations, we are providing an opportunity for any representations on the content of the proposed Local Place Plan. Should you wish to make any representations, please send them to me by Monday 27th July. If you wish to discuss any aspect of the proposed Local Place Plan or seek clarification on its content, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for taking the time to consider the proposed Local Place Plan. We appreciate your continued support for our community and look forward to submitting the final Plan to the Council following completion of the statutory consultation process.

Many Thanks

Caroline McKinley

Secretary Morningside Community Council

14 Apr 2026:Southside Community Councilis working on aLocal Place Plan (LPP)and is inviting residents of Southside and neighbouring areas to get involved. A LPP is a community-group driven initiative to come up with ideas on local ‘place’ and ‘space’ that can be adopted in the city’s next Local Development Plan. This will beCity Plan 2040and it will guide, in a lot of detail, the future shape and development of the city, focused on, but not limited to, the built environment. To get a reference point, take a look atCity Plan 2030. It's an impressive document.https://planningedinburgh.com/2024/11/07/city-plan-2030-now-adopted/

At this point, the Southside LPP is in its early stages. There are two ways to begin exploring. There is ashort online survey(around 10 minutes) covering housing, streets and spaces, and community amenities and there is aninteractive mapwhere people can pin comments and suggestions to specific locations in the neighbourhood. Then, onSaturday, 9 May, Southside Community Council will host another community workshop, from 1–3pm at Southside Community Centre. Here is the link to attend the workshop:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1984515693862?aff=oddtdtcreator

GPCC hasn’t engaged in a LPP exercise itself, although other neighbouring community councils do have the heads down. Locally, the Grange Association has had an involvement with a LPP drawn up for the future development of the Astley Ainslie site. LPPs are hosted by the Council’s Planning Department and they will be submitted there in September 2026. Around that time, they will be shared publicly for further consultation and comment. Do look out for that, then.

Planning Department will also issue ‘Calls for Ideas’ around that time, inviting you to chip in with small scale suggestions for improvements to neighbourhood green space, open space, design features, safety issues or mobility hazards. This is about what you ‘care about, like, don’t like’ or feel ‘could be better’. It is not about building a master plan.

For those of you who want to take a close look at the LPP concept, go to this Council link:

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/local-development-plan-guidance-1/local-place-plans

TheGIS Atlasfeature is worth examining. The ‘Layer List’ feature at the top RHS needs some patience, though.

29 June 2026:After many months of hard work by the Local Place Plan subcommittee, on behalf of Morningside Community Council, I am delighted to share the proposedMorningside Local Place Plan.  As you represent an area that falls within or adjoins the proposed Local Place Plan area, we are sharing the Plan with you as part of the statutory consultation process.

You can view the draft here:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=941f5825cc&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1869336877028578228&th=19f137fc48d393b4&view=att&zw&disp=safe

The Place Plan covers the Morningside area and has been developed following extensive community engagement. It sets out the community's shared vision and priorities for the future of the area.

In accordance with the Local Place Plan regulations, we are providing an opportunity for any representations on the content of the proposed Local Place Plan.  Should you wish to make any representations, please send them to me byMonday 27thJuly.If you wish to discuss any aspect of the proposed Local Place Plan or seek clarification on its content, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for taking the time to consider the proposed Local Place Plan. We appreciate your continued support for our community and look forward to submitting the final Plan to the Council following completion of the statutory consultation process.

Many Thanks

Caroline McKinley

Secretary Morningside Community Council

This article provides some clarification on various transport initiatives by City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). Several members of the public have raised concerns with the Community Council about these initiatives, often based on misinformation found online. Rather than preparing a separate response for each person, this briefing will provide a basis for such responses.

Low Emission Zone (LEZ)

An LEZ (sometimes called a Clean Air Zone, CAZ) is an area in which the use of older or more polluting vehicles is limited or prohibited. CEC is introducing a LEZ, covering an area slightly larger than Edinburgh city centre to be fully active from 1 June 2024. It is currently in a testing phase. Other LEZs in Scotland are in Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow. Unlike the London ULEZ, there are no permits. Vehicles considered more polluting (roughly pre-2015 (Euro 6) for diesel cars and pre-2013 (Euro 4) for petrol cars), are not allowed inside the LEZ

perimeter, and owners/drivers are charged each time they drive into the zone. Central Edinburgh air is badly polluted, and councils are legally required to take action to reduce such pollution (mainly nitrogen oxides and particulates) which comes mostly from vehicle exhausts. The LEZ is an attempt to reduce this pollution.

More information:

https://www.lowemissionzones.scot/

https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/roads-travel-parking/lez-works

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN)

An LTN is an attempt to reduce traffic passing through a predominantly residential area, especially traffic which is seen as using residential streets to avoid busier main routes. Vehicular access is maintained to all properties in an LTN, though journeys within the LTN may take slightly longer. Filters may be put in place which only allow some traffic, e.g. buses or emergency services, to pass. It is these physical filters which discourage through traffic. The aim of an LTN is to make residential areas safer and more comfortable to live, travel and spend time in. CEC is responding to Government policies to encourage Active Travel (i.e. walking and cycling) and to reduce private car use, to reduce pollution, reduce carbon emissions and address the obesity epidemic. CEC is introducing LTN trials in Leith and Corstorphine and may subsequently introduce them in other areas of the city.

More information:https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/13101/developing-low-traffic-

neighbourhoods-for-communities-across-edinburgh

20 Minute Neighbourhoods (20MN)

20 Minute Neighbourhoods is a planning initiative across the UK to promote towns and cities where everyone can access all of their daily needs within a 20 minute walk, including shops, post office, doctor, dentist, library and other council services, social venues, greenspaces and jobs. This is very much how towns and cities used to be organised, before the advent of out-of-town shopping centres and long commutes. With 20MNs, Local Development Plans prepared by the CEC encourage developers, businesses and service providers to set up local branches or small businesses to set up near to residential areas and in local centres

rather than on distant industrial estates. Stories that 20MNs will restrict peoples’ movements are entirely unfounded – no one’s ability to travel for shopping, services or work if they wish to do so will be affected. CEC is currently trialling 20MNs in Craigmillar/Niddrie, Gorgie/Dalry and Portobello, but will also introduce them to other parts of the city in due course, and with public consultation. More information:https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/future-council/need-20-minute-neighbourhoods

Are all these initiatives linked?

The LEZ is aimed solely at reducing air pollution in the city centre. LTNs and 20MNs are separate initiatives brought into the Edinburgh 2030 Climate Strategy which aims to reduce carbon emissions and is the city’s response to the UN Paris Agreement, UK Low Carbon Transition Plan and the Scottish Government Climate Change Plan. CEC is therefore legally required to take action to (for instance) reduce private car use, increase Active Travel, insulate homes and other buildings, encourage businesses to be more energy efficient, reduce waste and create more low-carbon jobs. More information:https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/15068/2030-climate-strategy

Credit: Nick Marshall, Northfield and Willowbrae Community Council

Neighbourhood Watch is a community led initiative to bring local people together to address crime and other community safety issues.

Neighbourhood Watch groups often liaise with the local police, the local authority and other agencies. They publish regular bulletins highlighting recent crimes and scams to be aware of.

For information on crime in our local community, and to sign up for alerts, click the link below:

Home