Planning permission has just been granted for the £4 million redevelopment of West Pilton Park.

Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) will now lead the redesign work along with SLR landscape architects and The City of Edinburgh Council, beginning in 2025.

There will be a new community growing space, a play park, skate and bouldering areas. ELGT say they aim to “reinvigorate the public space encouraging more people to use the park, which in turn will help improve their health and wellbeing”.

Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker, said: “Following consultation with the local community, I’m very excited that the West Pilton Park development will be taking the next steps towards creating a welcoming green space for the community, in partnership with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT). 

We are fortunate to have 144 parks and green spaces across the city and 38 Green Flag Awards – so it’s easy to see why we’re considered the UK’s greenest city.

Our parks have a positive impact on people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing by providing space for exercise, relaxation, social contact with friends and family, and opportunities for children and young people to play. I look forward to seeing the space at West Pilton Park take shape for our community and the development of new play areas and growing opportunities for locals and organisations.” 

Chief Executive of Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, Charlie Cumming, said: “I am delighted with the plans to make improvements to West Pilton Park, with thanks to our funders and the City of Edinburgh Council. The new amenities will provide an opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents as well as helping them to reclaim the park as a welcoming community space.

“The new play facilities will help meet the needs of the local children now and for future generations and will encourage greater use of the park for local families. The local community were at the centre of the consultation process, and it was their responses that ultimately guided the designs. Everyone deserves access to modern amenities and it’s important to have high quality greenspaces that people of all ages can enjoy. It also provides an opportunity to reconnect with nature and help to mitigate against climate change and biodiversity loss. It has been great for ELGT to lead on this project so far and we look forward to breaking ground soon and delivering this park for the local community.”

Green Projects Manager, North Edinburgh Arts, Val Moodie said: “We are looking forward to enjoying the rejuvenated park in West Pilton. The plans will create an improved space which will be a welcome addition to the quality greenspace across the community, bringing multiple benefits to local people and to local nature.”

ELGT say the redevelopment will also “help to mitigate against climate change, local flooding, and wildlife loss. This will include the creation of a seasonal wetland area, woodland restoration, meadow creation, and the planting of hundreds more trees across the park. This will provide a boost for wildlife and build climate resilience, as well as providing a visually attractive landscape for people to live their daily lives”. 


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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.