Councillors meet for the last time this year
The last council meeting of the year takes place at the City Chambers today.
The papers are all available to read here.
The papers are a measure of what will happen and how long the meeting will take. There are seven deputations to begin the day with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain appearing twice.
A deputation from residents living near St Mark’s Path will appear and have also written to councillors. The path has been closed as part of the Powderhall development – although it is to reopen from 19 December to 4 January while work stops for the holidays. There has been a public outcry about the loss of an important off road route for pedestrians and cyclists.
Dennis O’Keeffe has written his thoughts on the closure of the path saying there are safety concerns over the alternative active travel route proposed.
Mr O’Keeffe writes: “I support the Council’s commitment to active travel. My concern is how those aims are being delivered on the ground in the case of St Mark’s Path.
“The sudden closure of a well-used pedestrian route has had immediate impacts on accessibility, public safety, and a small local business that depends on passing footfall. These impacts were foreseeable, yet there was no prior consultation, no integrated impact assessment shared, and no transitional mitigation framework put in place.
“The alternative pedestrian arrangements raise equality and safety concerns, particularly for disabled users, older people, and parents with buggies. At the same time, construction access continues at a busy junction involving a primary school, emergency services, and increased traffic volumes.
“This case highlights a wider point. Good policy intentions must be matched by robust governance, consultation, and safety practice in delivery. Where business disruption is a predictable consequence of Council-led development, there should also be a transparent and proportionate framework for mitigation and redress.
“I respectfully ask Council to seek assurance that these standards are being applied consistently in this case and in future schemes.”
And a wee bit late in the day the motion by Cllr Katrina Faccenda to have a tree for Leith Town Centre is backed by two community councils who will both appear at the meeting.
One other indicator of the meeting and a flavour of the “temperature” at the council is the number of questions asked by councillors. These are written and now answered in writing by the relevant conveners. On Thursday there are 22 questions on a range of subjects. One shows that the debt owed by parents for school meals is in the region of £11,000, and another is much more serious as Cllr Thornley has raised the question of council bin lorries reversing into Clermiston Primary School at busy times resulting in near misses with children.
Erasmus+ welcomed
The UK’s return to work and study programme, Erasmus+ and negotiations on food and drink trading with the EU are “welcome steps forward”, according to Edinburgh politicians.
Students will be able to take part in exchange programmes in the EU under the Erasmus+ scheme again from January 2027, with some opportunities for exchanges beyond the EU also possible under the scheme.
Minister for European Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, also announced that negotiations are underway on a new deal to cut costs and red tape for trading food and drink.
Christine Jardine MP says both moves are “critical” for supporting universities and hospitality, both major employers across Edinburgh, but urged the Government to go further.
Ms Jardine said: “I am very pleased to see the Government continuing to repair the damage done to the UK by the Conservatives’ and Farage’s Brexit.
“The Tories botched Brexit deal hiked costs for small businesses in my Edinburgh West constituency, making it harder for high-quality local produce to make its way into the EU.
“Young people have had fantastic opportunities to study abroad, gain critical work experience, and learn about other languages and cultures taken away by our exit from Erasmus.
“The move back to this scheme will help students and researchers at our world-leading universities share knowledge and gain vital experience around the world.
“Although these are welcome steps forward to repairing our relationship with the EU, I hope the UK Government will go further and adopt Liberal Democrat calls for a new Customs Union to unlock growth and put us back at the heart of Europe.”
Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson also responded to the UK Government announcement. Mr Robertson said: “The Scottish Government welcomes the agreement which has been reached on Erasmus+. This is good news for Scotland, and something we have consistently argued for – including publishing a Scottish Governement position paper in March, two months before the UK-EU May summit when in principle agreement was reached.
“We regret that the UK Government ever took us out of the Erasmus+ programme – despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledging in the House of Commons in early 2020 to keep the UK in.
“We will now work positively to maximise the benefits and take up of the scheme as well as ensuring it enables people to participate and not keep them out – noting that Scotland always had a proportionately higher take up than the UK as a whole.”
New Town Quarter – student flats refused
The application to convert some of the mixed use planning permission for the huge site at the bottom of Dundas Street into 593 student beds was refused at the Development Management Sub-Committee on Wednesday.
Ross McNulty, Development Director at Ediston, said: “We’re obviously disappointed with the outcome of the committee meeting. We’ll take some time to reflect on the outcome and the debate at committee about the proposals before we decide how to respond. We can’t help but observe that the committee missed an opportunity that would have delivered many new homes quickly that would help tackle the housing emergency.”
Application for 953 new homes at The Paper Factory approved
A planning application by regeneration specialist, Summix Capital, for a residential-led, mixed-use development at the site of the former Saica packaging facility in West Edinburgh, (otherwise to those who attended Hidden Door Festival this year known as The Paper Factory) has been approved.
The development will provide a unique opportunity to regenerate the former industrial site on Turnhouse Road which extends to 15.5 acres (6.3 hectares).
This brownfield site is allocated in the Council’s City Plan 2030 for residential-focused redevelopment, and this approval will (according to the developers) deliver “one of the most exciting and best-connected development sites in Scotland”.
The permission covers 957 homes, 35 per cent of which are affordable, plus a new hotel with 172 bedrooms. In addition, ground-floor retail. commercial and community uses are proposed, as well as the creation of new public realm and a station interface with associated landscaping, infrastructure, car parking and access arrangements.
The proposed housing will include tenure-blind affordable housing to address the city’s housing emergency and will provide accessible family homes and Build to Rent (BTR) accommodation. BTR sees homes built specifically for rent, rather than sale.
The development masterplan defines seven development plots. Plots 1 and 2 will deliver private sale housing; Plots 3 and 4 are dedicated to BTR homes; and Plots 5 and 6 contribute to the city’s affordable housing provision. Plot 7 will be the site of the new hotel.
The site has good access to existing or planned sustainable transport networks, making the low-car-ownership/low-car-travel policy targets in the application achievable. This includes direct pedestrian access to the Edinburgh Gateway Railway Station, with both it and Edinburgh Gateway Tram Station located within easy walking distance.
The landscaping proposals offer a wide range of outdoor experiences for users, with high-quality open space, including public realm and communal areas throughout the development.
A northern park area with a rain garden is proposed, along with wildflower meadows, tree planting, and a formal playground, lawn, and picnic areas. Additionally, two new civic squares are envisaged.
Delivering biodiversity enhancements, the proposals present opportunities for stronger connections throughout the site and the surrounding area, with a pedestrian focus and ample, easily accessible amenity open spaces for future residents and users of the proposed development.
Stuart Black, Development Director for Summix Capital, said: “The granting of this planning application for Edinburgh Gateway will create one of Scotland’s most exciting and best-connected neighbourhoods, representing a significant investment in the capital.
“Redeveloping one of the last significant pieces of brownfield land in the city into a brand-new, sustainable mixed-use community, Edinburgh Gateway will support the tackling of the city’s well-publicised housing emergency.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the local community and Council officers, as we progress the delivery of the development.”
Christmas Card competition winner
Well done to Sumika a P3 pupil at Dalry Primary School who has won the annual Christmas Card Picture Competition which Edinburgh Central MSP, Angus Robertson ran in partnership with The Edinburgh Reporter. The theme was Friendship and we thought the picture which Sumika drew caught that sentiment perfectly.
