The large scale public realm project in George Street and First New Town will at long last become a reality, thanks to funding raised by the Tourist Tax.
The Visitor Levy funding will pay for the council to borrow £31.75 million, required to make the substantial changes planned on the city’s premier street.
These plans have been discussed over years, and Transport Convener, Stephen Jenkinson, said this is the “big ticket stuff”. He said it is “exciting to think we can start to deliver on these big projects as the Visitor Levy unlocks the funding which has, until now, been unavailable to us”.
It is estimated that the borrowing costs for the George Street scheme will amount to £4.4 million in the financial year 2027/28, rising to £16.35 million in the following year as the spend ramps up.
The council anticipates that the income from the Visitor Levy will be around £45 to 50 million each year by 2028/29. From this smaller sums will be used to fully fund other complete projects.
The council plans changes on Portobello Prom where £2.5 million will be spent developing a masterplan, and will include high quality public realm, accessible toilets and a play area.
A project has been identified at Cramond Foreshore where £2 million will be spent upgrading the car park, improving accessibility and active travel connections.
There will be new accessible public toilets built in each location with a Changing Places facility – a public toilet with mobility aids to help those who need them to use the toilet. The facility has a lie flat surface to enable carers to help someone with a disability more easily,. Changing Places toilets, are bigger with enough space for both the person using the facility and one or more carers. The equipment might also include a hoist, an adjustable height basin, and a shower, and is promoted as vital to allow anyone with disabilities to get out and about more easily.
Crown jewel
The George Street First New Town scheme, in which most of the street will be pedestrianised, is being promoted as one of the large scale projects contained in the council’s City Mobility Plan which can now proceed.
Cllr Jenkinson said: “This street is one of the crown jewels and I have always been confident we should do it right. It has been debated for 10 years. It is now time to be bold. We have the opportunity to deliver the project and transform George Street and the First New Town as the Visitor Levy unlocks the funding mechanism.
“The premier leisure and retail street is a huge economic driver in Scotland’s economy, and now we have the answer.”
The report states: “The George Street development is a public realm and active travel project aiming to deliver a ‘people focused’ street, encouraging walking, wheeling and cycling whilst maintaining the heritage of the space. The project will benefit both residents and visitors through increased footfall, increased cyclist journeys and the development of a large-scale public realm. Funding would allow for the main George Street development as well as supporting the First New Town through footway widening of Frederick Street and Hanover Street and the renewal of the Frederick Street setts.”
Broad funding principles
There are already broad principles established as to what the eventual £50 million per year revenue from the Tourist Tax will pay for, including public services and infrastructure that “provide an enjoyable and safe visitor and resident experience”, culture and heritage, and the visitor economy. The council is now narrowing this down to some more specific items, but Cllr Jenkinson said that the legislation is strict on what the monies can be spent on.
He said: “We are learning as we go. The key thing is where we are now., but it is important that when we get the additional money people must see benefits quickly. Through time projects funded by the Visitor Levy will change in scope and scale. I am happy however that we will get “bang for our buck”. Everyone will see the benefits quickly, both residents and visitors.
“We must highlight where the new money has come from. I am mindful that not everyone bought into the Visitor Levy. We have to convince others this is the right place and time for it. It is a better way to manage the city.”
For that reason one of the first items will be to replace and upgrade litter bins in the city centre. A total of £300,000 will be spent in the first three years to buy litter bins and instal them. This alone will allow the council to spend its regular funding on other areas of the city, and will improve the look and feel in the areas of high footfall.
Edinburgh Visitor Levy Advisory Forum
The Edinburgh Visitor Levy Advisory Forum (EVLAF) is a standalone body which advises the council as to ways of spending the income which accommodation providers will begin to collect later this year. The council submitted its wishlist to the Forum who then gave their feedback on each suggestion. This now forms the basis of recommendations to the Transport and Environment Committee next week.
The body has not endorsed the council officers’ every whim, suggesting for example, that some of the projects should more properly be funded from the council’s other income. It will be left up to the full council of 63 councillors to approve all the spending once the plans have passed through each executive committee.
Setted streets
At present the council can only afford to refurbish one setted street each year. Now, with this new funding, the council aims to accelerate that work. The Transport Convener said that although this has previously been thought very expensive, it will now be possible with a fund of £3.85 million to renew many more. Last year the council completed the makeover of Lawnmarket where the whole street was relaid with setts.
Other projects include £6 million on upgrading pavements in town centres, £3 million on improving Hunter Square, £2 million on upgrading Rose Street, £160,000 on installing hostile vehicle mitigations on Cockburn Street, £500,000 on graffiti on private properties, £3.2 million on cleaning and washing the City Centre streets, with a proposal for evening cleaning sessions, £440,000 on completing the Twelve Closes project to clean the twelve pedestrain streets off the Royal Mile and make them safer, £1.5 million on installing new permanent anti-terrorism barriers on the High Street, a general fund of £3.375 million on upgrading public toilets, £225,000 on wayfinding, £1.015 million on festive lighting and bunting, £200,000 on a new design for Princes Street and the Gardens, £1 million on installing electricity and water connection points in public realm locations for more sustainable events.
Division of the monies
Before the remainder is split up there will be £5 million allocated to Housing and Tourism Mitigation and £2 million allocated to Participatory Budgeting. (This is similar to Leith Chooses which allocates around £44,000 among various charities and organisations in accordance with a public vote.)
And a further 2% will be reimbursed to hotels and other accommodation providers to offset the administration costs which they incur in gathering the tax on behalf of the council.
The matters above will be discussed at the Transport and Enviornment Committee meeting next week. The papers and ways to view the meeitng online are here.
