Author Archives: Jack Caldwell

Housing 2040: Scot Gov exhibition / consultation

The Scottish Government & Architecture Design Scotland are coming to Edinburgh on  11th and 12th December. They say

Home is more than simply shelter. It is not just the place where we live, but has a huge influence on how we live. It can shape our health and wellbeing, as well as our work and prosperity. It also impacts on the quality of our environment and the strength of our communities. Housing touches every part of life in Scotland, from childhood to old age.

We’re here to explore the future, working to understand what our homes and communities should look and feel like in 2040. The exhibition looks at themes around living and housing, offering the opportunity for discovery and discussion – gathering and sharing views about our housing needs and aspirations.

By listening to voices from across the country and across generations, we’re building a picture of a housing system that can evolve and adapt to the challenges that tomorrow brings, from an ageing population to the climate emergency.

The Scottish Government has begun to consider how our homes and communities should look and feel in 2040 and the options and choices to achieve this.

The travelling exhibition is curated and designed by Edinburgh University’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA), award-winning Scottish practice Collective Architecture and Peak15 Design, together with Chris Leslie and Sandy Halliday. Accompanying the exhibition are facilitated workshop sessions, designed to hear from a range of voices.

The views collected through the consultation and the travelling exhibition will help to inform the Scottish Government’s final vision and route map for housing over the next 20 years, which it is aiming to publish in spring 2020.

The exhibition and consultation will be at Castlebrae Community High School from 6pm – 8pm.

Community Police surgeries

The Leith Community Policing Team are holding Community Policing surgeries at The Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street on the following dates. The surgeries are an opportunity for local people to speak directly with officers about concerns in the area.

Friday 18th of October 2019 (1.30 / 4 pm)

Friday 8th of November 2019  (1.30 / 4 pm)

Friday 20th of December 2019 (1.30 / 4 pm)

Edinburgh Police North East are the division of Police Scotland that operate in the Edinburgh North East locality, including the areas of Broughton, Leith, Bonnington, Pilrig, Craigmillar, Craigentinny, Niddrie, Portobello, Duddingston and Restalrig.

Please visit @EdinPolNE on Twitter for more information.

Kiltwalk looking for Leith volunteers

The Edinburgh Kiltwalk is on the 16th of September 2018.

The Kiltwalk is a unique charity that enables walkers to raise money for any Scottish charity of their choice. By staging events that bring together thousands of walkers who fundraise for their chosen charity or cause, they support those in need of a helping hand After two successful Kiltwalks in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee which has hosted over 15,000 walkers, the Kiltwalk are excited to come to Edinburgh for the final event of 2018!

The Kiltwalk would love to involve the local communities they pass through on the walk. Part of the route goes through Leith and a pit stop is located in Victoria Park!

Kilties are needed to give their support at the event, keep walkers spirits up and create the most enjoyable day possible. All of the work you do, the time you give and effort you put in to makes the events what they are and is always recognised by staff and walkers alike.

For more info, please visit thekiltwalk.co.uk/volunteer/

 

Stead’s Place applications to be extended

Below is the full correspondance from the the Convenor of LCCC’s Planning sub-group, Harald Tobermann and Kenneth Bowles regarding the extension for comments on the planning applications until the 28th September 2018.

Dear Kenneth Bowes

Regarding applications 18/04349/CON and 18/04332/FUL.

I write to request an extension for comments for both the above applications by four weeks to 5 October; this should apply to both community councils and local residents for the following reasons:

  • the applications were filed and advertised during the holiday and council recess period when many people are not in Edinburgh, including ward councillors whose advise is sought by their electors
  • there are a very large number of documents to consider, some very lengthy and complex
  • there is great local and wider public interest in these applications, possibly the most substantial since the application for Shrub Place (that went to appeal)
  • the timing of several local community council meetings where these applications will receive public scrutiny do not mesh with the currently advertised timeline

Finally, the application 18/04349/CON has been advertised misleadingly as concerning “156, 158B, 160 And 162 Leith Walk Edinburgh EH6 5DX” (the application form on the portal gives merely a grid sequence); however, it appears demolition is sought for 106-154 Leith Walk. This applies to a lesser extend also to 18/04332/FUL (which gives the same misleading address). To avoid subsequent legal uncertainty over the validity of the process, it seems to me that it would be prudent to re-advertise both applications with a new timeline, or – if the applicant supplied invalid information – to invite them to resubmit.

Harald Tobermann,
Leith Central Community Council

Dear Harald Tobermann,

In response to your email, the original address does appear to be incorrect. Therefore both applications are to be re-advertised with a new expiry date of 28th September 2018. This should provide the community council (and other interested parties) enough time to provide a response.

Kind regards.

Kenny Bowes
Senior Planning Officer
Majors Waterfront Team – City of Edinburgh Council

Leith Central Community Council have yet to formally submit their response.

Making It Happen: Leith this Saturday

Making It Happen: Leith is an event is organised in collaboration with the Danish urban life organisation GivRum and Leith Creative. It will be a one day event focused on placemaking where local citizens can make small projects together to improve their local area. The event will be Challenge Anneka style, where participants have just one day to come up with an idea and make it happen! You can see a video of a previous event in Copenhagen.

The event is funded by the Scottish Government, and will use the Place Standard Tool as a way to analyse the area on the day, setting the foundation for the projects.

We would like to invite local members of the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership to participate at the event, to get a diverse representation from the public, private and civil sectors on the day which will offer many different perspectives to the challenge. If you would be interested in taking part it would be great to have you along. The event is open to all ages so you are welcome to bring any family members along as well!

Here is a link to the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/383159288874910/

Starting from The Village in South Fort Street from 10am – 5.30pm