The City of Edinburgh Council has confirmed that the Scottish Government has supported its plans for the development of the city.
Following a 15-month long examination by a Scottish Government Reporter, the City Plan 2030 saw significant elements being supported, with only some small changes required. The plan looks at how the council plans on shaping the development and planning over the course of the next few years.
In the original city plan submission, it was outlined how the council is planning on playing a leading role in the response to social inequalities and climate change, with this including a target to become carbon net zero by 2030. As part of a place-based approach to delivering new communities, the council intends to deliver a ‘network’ of 20-minute neighbourhoods, with these bringing together active travel and public transport improvements.
Developing on brownfield land is also a priority for the plan, with this supporting the improvement and re-imagining of neighbourhoods within Edinburgh, instead of building on greenfield land.
As part of further measures to deliver on sustainability goals, the council outlined its intentions to ensure that all new buildings in the city are net zero ‘in their operational emissions’, with this being done through fabric, design and use. Climate change mitigation and adaptation are also touched on, with these working to not only protect green spaces and increase biodiversity, but also improve physical and mental wellbeing, and air quality.
Commenting on the report into the plan, Councillor James Dalgleish, City of Edinburgh Council’s Planning Convenor, said:
“Our ambitious City Plan 2030 meets the needs of the Capital’s growing population, making better use of land across all neighbourhoods, and supporting our commitment to be net zero by 2030. I welcome the news that the Reporter has recognised and endorsed these ambitions, with only minor changes required to the plan.
“We want to strengthen communities and make sure that our policies focus on the health and wellbeing of our residents. We want to build sustainable places where people can afford to buy or rent their homes, walk, or wheel to educational and healthcare facilities, enjoy cultural and sporting activities, and easily access public transport to visit other parts of Edinburgh…”
“Following today’s report, we can move forward with positive changings to our affordable housing policy, with developments now having to include 35% affordable homes. This will help address the housing emergency in Edinburgh. We can also take forward policies on student housing and reducing carbon emissions from new buildings, while our mixed-use approach for commercial developments is also supported.”
Before being implemented, the council’s planning committee and will consider a final version of the plan, with this then being submitted to Scottish Government ministers to adopt.
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