Tag Archives: Planning

Street design consultation

Edinburgh Council has prepared new guidance for street design which focuses on creating better places for people.

This consultation will run until 30 June 2014.

The Council would like your views on the draft EDINBURGH STREET DESIGN GUIDANCE and the design of streets in the city.

You can read the document and complete the on-line survey on the Council’s website: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/streetdesign

Alternatively you can e-mail us with Edinburgh Council comments directly at streetdesign@edinburgh.gov.uk

You can follow progress on the consultation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/planningedin

Online planning reaches milestone.

(With thanks to LHNCC for reblogging this article – the original is here. And to Edinburgh planning staff for having a sense of humour about their chocolate biscuit choices. And more seriously for the cost savings and environmental benefits of online government. Just so long as planning documents can be accessed offline too…)

Last week we received our 10,000 on-line application. Whilst this gave us cause for great celebration (we opened a packet of chocolate biscuits – as only planners would) it is a significant milestone. The submission of applications electronically is something we have been encouraging for a number of years as this benefits both us and our customers in how we handle their application.

Chocolate biscuits – other types of biscuits are available

Last year, the Scottish Government set out the savings people make by submitting on-line. In general applicants save £200 on average with planning authorities saving £50 on average per application. This not only means savings to us and our customers but it is also good for the environment by reducing the amount of printing, copying and packaging.

Submitting applications on-line is one part of ensuring our customers have greater access to planning information. This includes allowing you to view and comment on applications on-line and read key documents such as the Local Development Plan and planning guidance. This is all supported by increased access to the internet through computers and free wi fi in Council buildings, libraries and neighbourhood offices. In time, we will see the regular Development Management Sub-Committees and Planning Committees webcast when you can watch all the action from the comfort of your armchair or on the bus.

Leith Walk repairs announcement

(with thanks to Leith Harbour and Newhaven, and Leith Links CC web weavers for their posts)

The following is (presumably) an email from Alan Dean of Edinburgh Council:

We can announce that the Tender assessment for the next phase of the Leith Programme (Pilrig Street to the Foot of the Walk) is complete and the winning Tenderer is Crummock (Scotland) Ltd. The contractors will now begin to mobilise for an anticipated works start date of 5^th May 2014.

Our contractors have assured us that they will make every effort to keep disruption to a minimum, keep the worksites safe and maintain access to properties and businesses. Measures to endeavour to ensure this include:

Providing safe segregated working sites and safe surrounds

Providing appropriate signage and information

Working outwith normal site hours of operation if issues are identified with maintaining access during the working day

Minimise parking restrictions as much as possible

Dust suppression during cutting procedures

Daily inspection of site for cleanliness, security, trip hazards

At times, it will be necessary to close side roads during resurfacing and work on junctions but these will be kept to a minimum and diversion routes carefully signed.

In order to keep people in both the immediate and wider area informed of the work, letters are going out to 16,600 addresses in the broader Leith Programme area.

During the works, timescales, road diversion and access information will be regularly updated on the Council website www.edinburgh.gov.uk/leithimprovements

General questions regarding the work can be emailed to the City Centre and Leith Neighbourhood Team, citycentreteam@edinburgh.gov.uk, or phoned in 0131 529 7061. Issues related to the works on site, such as access enquiries or concerns can be directed to myself, in the first instance, as I will be based in the area and available on mobile number 07739 188438 or email alan.dean@edinburgh.gov.uk

154 Mcdonald Road planning permission likely to be granted

A letter from Edinburgh Council’s planning department says that the appeal by the developer is likely to be allowed:

Dear Leith Central Community Council,

I am writing on behalf of Councillor Ian Perry, Convener of Planning for the City of Edinburgh Council.

I expect you will be aware that the reporter has indicated that he is minded to allow the appeal and grant planning permission for the conversion of 154 Mcdonald Road to residential accommodation (application reference 13/02458/FUL):

http://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/CaseDetails.aspx?id=94221&T=20

Councillor Perry has now written to the appellant to ask about their intentions for 5 windows to the rear of the property which directly overlook the playground. The appellant proposed to install opaque glazing in their appeal statement, however the reporter did not deem it necessary to add a condition that would secure this aspect of the development.

I will inform you of the outcome of any discussions.

Regards,

Ian Tame

Departmental Assistant to the Planning Convener

Planning and Building Standards I Services for Communities I City of Edinburgh Council, Room 9.16, 329 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PN I Tel 0131 529 6133 I ian.tame@edinburgh.gov.uk I www.edinburgh.gov.uk

High Hedges

This week (from 1 April) the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 came into effect to help resolve issues with high hedges which are having a negative impact on domestic properties.

Where neighbours are unable to resolve the issue of a high hedge, this new legislation gives homeowners and occupiers a right to apply to Edinburgh Council for a high hedge notice.The Council will act as an independent and impartial adjudicator, considering the position of each party, before making a decision.

The intention is that the new law will resolve problems caused by hedges (hedges which are over two metres tall and block out light) and allows Edinburgh Council to enforce decisions taken. You can find more about the new legislation and how to make an application for a high hedges notice including the relevant fees on the Edinburgh Council website.

(copied from Planning Edinburgh blog)