16/11/2024 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Detailed plans submitted for new Midlothian Village

Springfield Properties, one of Scotland’s leading private and affordable housebuilders, has submitted detailed proposals to Midlothian Council for the first phase of the new Lingerwood development.

After securing outline planning for around 1,000 homes last year to create a sustainable new neighbourhood off Stobhill Road just outside of Newtongrange, the developers have now designed the first phase of 63 private homes which has been submitted to Midlothian Council for comment.

Ranging from two, three, four and five bedrooms, the homes are part of Springfield’s new collection of house styles, this is the first application to feature the new portfolio. Each of the high-quality homes have been designed to maximise energy efficiency, include a unrivalled level of choice and specification, such as back garden turf as standard and a selection of paint colours for each room, while suiting a range of lifestyles to ensure buyers find their ideal home.

Reflecting the local landscape, the proposals also include attractive open green spaces, nature trail paths, new woodland planting, local links and the retention of existing trees, whilst the wider masterplan features everything a community will need to thrive. Crawlees Road in particular will also benefit from upgrades as a result of the development, as the road will be widened and include the installation of footpaths to provide a safe pedestrian route to the Mayfield industrial estate.

Springfield Managing Director, Andy Curran, said: “We’re pleased to be celebrating this milestone in the Lingerwood development journey as we submit proposals for the first 63, energy efficient homes for people in Midlothian. This is especially the case as it’s the first application to feature our new house style range which will streamline our operations and offer the best choice for our customers.

“At Springfield, we are well versed in creating new sustainable communities and have already taken forward villages which prioritise green space, local facilities and supporting infrastructure in Dundee, Perth, Elgin and we’re at the early stages for a new village on the outskirts of Stirling.

“As with these villages, Lingerwood has been thoughtfully designed to create a well-connected community, embracing the 20-minute neighbourhood model which promotes local, sustainable living and ensures people can access local amenities, such as shops and play parks, easily.

“Lingerwood will see the creation of a thriving village that can sustain the needs of local people for years to come. It will be a best-in-class example of placemaking, and we are confident that it will complement nearby established residential areas that already have distinct identities.

“We have worked closely with Midlothian Council and local stakeholders on our plans and their feedback has been invaluable so far. We look forward to hearing the Council’s thoughts on these designs in the coming months.”

Community Christmas night at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store

THURSDAY 21st NOVEMBER

Dobbies Garden Centres is getting ready to welcome residents to its Edinburgh store for the annual Christmas Shopping Night in collaboration with National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust.

Gather the family and kick off the festivities at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store on Thursday 21 November with special offers, including £5 off £25 and £10 off £50 to spend on the night, tastings, demonstrations and entertainment, from 5-9pm.

Guests in attendance will be treated to a complimentary glass of fizz on arrival and get to experience Christmas, in every sense.

Those attending can enjoy tucking into freshly-baked Quarter Variant Cakes, that can be purchased for 20% off on the night, tasty condiments from Mrs Bridges, sweet treats from chocolatiers Lindt, and the adults can sample tipples from Secret Garden.

They can also take part in a raffle and get top tips during a live demonstration on how to make your own wreath, as well as the option to book into the restaurant for a special two-course Christmas menu for just £17. There will also be 20% off all Waitrose Christmas food on the night.

The Garden Centre will be unveiling a Christmas tree that has been decorated by Teenage Cancer Trust. There will also be entertainment from Chaplin’s Disco and Aurora who will be playing the flute, and Holy Trinity Handbells will be playing in the outside courtyard area.

Locals can also browse Dobbies’ 2024 festive collections, with a variety of themes and products to suit every taste and budget at a discount.

Dobbies’ Edinburgh store will also be collaborating with IND!E Pop-Up to host SH Designs, a colourful stationery and gifts company that uses original artwork and pattern designs.

Customers can browse and buy these gorgeous products in-store from Monday 18 November, with the independent wrapping up the collaboration on Thursday 28 November, but set to return in December (Monday 9 – Sunday 15).

Matt Hopkins from IND!E said: “We’re thrilled to bring SH Designs, as part of IND!E’s pop-up experience, to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store for their Christmas Shopping Night.

“We want to connect local shoppers with independent retailers, and events like this are a great way to do this.”

Jenna Bavidge, General Manager of Dobbies Edinburgh, is excited to give communities near the Edinburgh store a festive experience. She said: “Our Shopping Night gives locals an opportunity to come together and celebrate the start of the festive season, exploring Christmas in every sense.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us with this event.

“We want to give everyone visiting the Edinburgh store a memorable visit, and we hope everyone enjoys the charity Christmas Shopping Night.

“Guests will also get to support Teenage Cancer Trust with their ticket purchase, a great cause that’s providing life-changing care and support to young people with cancer across the UK.”

Tickets are priced at £1, available at www.dobbies.com and in-store, and all proceeds from ticket sales and additional fundraising on the night will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust.

Explore Dobbies’ new season ranges and browse festive inspiration at Christmas In Every Sense At Dobbies | Dobbies Garden Centres

Scotland’s Budget Report Preview 1: What might the Scottish Government do on Business Rates?

In the Budget, the Chancellor announced that Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) businesses would receive 40% rates relief in England next year, following a 75% relief in the current year (write Fraser of Allander Institute’s MAIRI SPOWAGE and JOAO SOUSA).

RHL businesses in Scotland have had no such relief since 2021-22, which (as you can imagine) has led to many businesses saying they are at a disadvantage to their counterparts South of the Border. Given this extension in relief in England, businesses in the RHL sector are likely to be calling on the Scottish Government to follow suit.

Such a decision by the Chancellor does generate Barnett consequentials for the Scottish Government, because the UK Government compensated English councils for the lost revenue. Business rates are devolved to all three devolved nations, and there is no obligation for any of the devolved governments to replicate measures in their jurisdiction.

Last year, we looked at the 75% relief announcement in England and tried to estimate how much it would cost to replicate. This analysis concluded that it was likely to cost considerably more in Scotland to replicate the relief than was provided through Barnett, because:

The business rates system is just differently structured in Scotland; but mainly;
RHL businesses make up a larger share of the property tax base in Scotland.

What about the 40% relief?

As we did last year, we have looked at the data available on the tax base for business rates to try to estimate how much it might cost to replicate the 40% relief in Scotland.

We must emphasise that this is not completely straightforward from the publicly available data. Whilst the Valuation Roll (which lists all properties and their rateable value) is a public document, the extent to which different properties attract reliefs is not on this database, so we have to make some assumptions about the extent to which properties may already be receiving reliefs. Obviously, for example, if a property is already receiving 100% relief (e.g. through the Small Business Bonus Scheme), then they cannot receive any more relief from the 40% measure, even if they are in RHL.

This is important because 100% relief for property is actually quite common: 48% of properties receive this.

Chart 1: Proportion of properties that receive 100% relief, selected property classes

Source: Scottish Government

The second challenge is that there is a cap on the amount of relief that an individual company can receive, which limits the amount of relief paid, but requires a property-by-property analysis (and some assumptions about multi-property companies) to understand the impact this has on the overall cost.

All of these assumptions mean our analysis will not be as accurate as a proper costing by the Scottish Fiscal Commission if the Scottish Government were to introduce this measure (given the additional data they have access to): and our attempt to account for multi-property enterprises is likely to be imperfect which might mean we are underestimating the impact of the cap (so slightly overestimating the cost of a new relief).

Having said all that (sorry for all the caveats), our analysis suggests that it will cost roughly £220m to replicate this relief in Scotland, compared to the £147m that was generated by the decision in England through Barnett.

[For those who are interested, you will note that this is not a linear reduction on our estimate for the 75% relief. This is because of the cap for each company again: companies are more likely to hit the cap with a higher level of relief so it is not as simple as it appears, unfortunately!]

Look out for more analysis

We will be producing Scotland’s Budget Report 2024 on 29 November, which will set the context for the Scottish Budget on 4 December. In the run-up, we will continue to publish blogs with new analysis to add to the discussion!

Scottish Government: New regulations to improve funeral standards

Inspections to increase public confidence

Inspections and other measures will promote the highest standards of care and increase public confidence in the funeral sector under draft regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament.

The Burial and Cremation (Inspection) (Scotland) Regulations 2025, if approved, will ensure minimum standards are maintained to safeguard the dignity of the deceased and promote compassionate and professional care for the bereaved.

Inspectors will support any non-compliant business to make the changes needed but can issue enforcement notices with reasonable deadlines for action if necessary.

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “Bereavement can be emotionally overwhelming and being able to engage with the practical issues and funeral arrangements can be very difficult. It is, however, something everyone is likely to experience at some stage in their life, whether it’s the death of a family member, a loved one, or a friend.

“The vast majority of funeral directors and the wider industry provide dignified and professional services, and these reforms will benefit the sector by ensuring it is not unfairly impacted by the failings of a few.

“These reforms have received widespread support within the industry and we will appoint additional inspectors to work with the sector to ensure best practice. Publishing inspection reports will lead to greater transparency and can help improve standards.

“Having confidence in the care and dignity given to our loved ones, along with the compassionate and professional treatment of those bereaved, can go some way to alleviating the sorrow of bereavement.”

Free SAMH event to help boost physical activity and sport as a mental health solution in Edinburgh

Scotland’s largest mental health charity is hosting a free panel discussion exploring how physical activity and sport can help tackle the current mental health crisis.

SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) are inviting anyone involved in local sport, such as coaches, personal trainers, jog leaders and more, to join the event, hosted at the stunning Playfair Library Hall at the University of Edinburgh on Friday 29 November.

Speaking at the event will be Stuart Campbell, Director of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow—the first major event in Scotland to pledge to Scotland’s Mental Health Charter. Stuart will be joined by Professor Larissa Davies, a specialist in the economic impact of sport and physical activity. Attendees will also hear first-hand from people with lived experience of mental health problems, and the role physical activity had in their recovery.

Stuart Campbell, Director of the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2024, said: “My goal is to highlight what can be achieved through a social impact campaign in partnership with a major sporting event. We need input from all corners of our communities to challenge us to improve.

“This is a chance to start working together to ensure that upcoming sporting events truly resonate and prioritise your best interests. A Scotland that values wellbeing, supports mental health, and cares for its citizens is a stronger, prouder, and more prosperous Scotland.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to create connections with industry peers, share best practice, spread awareness of their work and ask questions directly to our panel of leading experts during a Q&A session.

Professor Larissa Davies, Professor of Applied Sport Economics at the Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Physical activity is an important preventative health tool for combating poor mental health.

“Being active reduces the likelihood of depression and anxiety, as well as the risk of non-communicable health conditions such as dementia. In addition, it also improves life satisfaction and general wellbeing.

“The case for investing in physical activity to address Scotland’s mental health crisis has never been stronger.

“My research focuses on measuring and valuing the social value of sport and physical activity, including the impacts on health, wellbeing, and social capital, both in the UK and internationally.

“Recent projects include the new social value model for sport and physical activity in England, and a study of Gaelic Games on the island of Ireland.

“I am looking forward to sharing more about my social value research, which spans across more than 15 years.”

The event is delivered in partnership with sportscotland and the University of Edinburgh and is free to attend for anyone who is interested.

Sign-up here Active Lifestyles: A high impact, low cost mental health solution Tickets, Fri, Nov 29, 2024 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

City Council: Planning for sustainable growth and much needed new homes

City council Planning Convener Cllr James Dalgleish writes about a bold and ambitious plan agreed last week by councillors to make better use of land in the Capital:

Edinburgh’s population is growing fast and so a major highlight of City Plan 2030 is setting aside enough land to accommodate 53,000 much needed homes.

It will help to inform planning decisions going forward to guide sustainable growth and where we can we’ll agree the use of brownfield land rather than precious greenfield sites for new development.

Last year we declared a housing emergency to address the city’s chronic shortage of affordable housing so integral to the plan is that each new housing development will have to include a minimum of 35% affordable homes.

To look after the wellbeing of our residents and meet our climate goals we need to look wider than just providing new homes though. We’re going to create sustainable neighbourhoods fit for local modern living where people can afford to buy or rent their homes. Residents will have job opportunities nearby and be able to walk, or wheel to educational and healthcare facilities, enjoy cultural and sporting activities and easily access public transport to visit other parts of Edinburgh.

We’re doing this already in Granton Waterfront, where the first tenants have just moved into new affordable housing as part of our £1.3bn regeneration of the area. And along the coast at Seafield and in the west of the city we’ve allocated land to create thriving communities there too. And a masterplan for the west of the city is being considered for approval by councillors at the Planning Committee today.

It is important that we meet the needs of everyone who wants to live in our beautiful Capital. Edinburgh is also an internationally renowned university city and the plan will help guide where and how much student accommodation we have in the future. On larger sites coming forward developers will be asked to provide other housing, particularly affordable homes, allowing students to live alongside a mix of others within communities.

The plan will also help Edinburgh to transition to net zero by reducing carbon emissions from new buildings and in areas of regeneration we’re delivering new heat networks and energy infrastructure.

New environmental policies are also key as it is vital we protect our beautiful green spaces, the wellbeing of our residents, reduce flooding and improve air quality.

A robust management plan to continue to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of Old and News Towns World Heritage Site (WHS) is also supported by City Plan 2030. It is also being considered by councillors for approval at committee today and as part of our spectacular WHS we have also identified Princes Street and Waverley Valley as an area for transformation. Look out for our consultation on this starting in the coming weeks.

I’d like to thank all those residents, community groups and businesses who helped us to get City Plan 2030 over the line and acknowledge the hard work of Council officers who were part of this.

Creating future business leaders

Funding to expand entrepreneurship in Scotland

More than £1.9 million has been awarded to create the entrepreneurs of the future and to increase access to business careers.

Pupils will have the opportunity to learn about business from primary one to the end of high school for the first time under a new initiative to boost entrepreneurship in Scotland. This follows more than £829,000 being awarded to seven education organisations.

They include Gen+, which is designing lessons that set high school pupils real-world challenges by established entrepreneurs, focused on running aspects of a business, while the University of Strathclyde will provide activity packs that develop entrepreneurial skills in primary school children.

Adults under-represented in business, including women and ethnic minorities, will benefit from £1.08 million awarded to 13 organisations through the Pathways Fund, helping turn their ideas and fledgling businesses into growing enterprises.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes visited pupils at Braes High School in Falkirk to see some of the entrepreneurial projects they have been working on.

Ms Forbes said: “These projects mean that for the first time entrepreneurship will be embedded in Scotland’s classrooms, from P1 to S6. By mainstreaming the subject we aim to give every school leaver the skills, confidence and opportunity to set up their own business.

“This is a continuation of the Scottish Government’s drive to create one of Europe’s leading start-up economies. Existing entrepreneurs are already being supported, including by our successful Techscaler programme. Now, through these two funds, we are developing the next generation.

“I want young people and under-represented groups to be excited by the idea of going into business, to understand it’s something they can do.”

CEO of Gen+ Victoria Vardy said: “At Gen+, we believe education should inspire young people to become adaptable, self-aware, and ready for the future.

“ Our Industry Innovators programme connects classroom learning with insights from real-world business challenges, helping pupils understand and develop the core skills that lead to success across industries.“

By learning directly from industry experts, students gain the confidence and practical skills to turn their ambitions into reality, empowering them to become Scotland’s future entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow.”

The Entrepreneurial Education Pathways Fund totals £829,346

Successful recipients of the Entrepreneurial Education Pathways Fund:

University of Strathclyde – Meet the RECCO Family (£80,994): To support the development of illustrated digital educational resources for the development of an entrepreneurial mindset in early primary school children (P1-3).
Daydream Believers – Dreamers and Doers (£146,200): To develop the Dreamers and Doers playlist creating three entrepreneurial challenges to promote creativity, innovation and problem-solving, integrated into the existing SCQF Creative Thinking qualification.
Gen+ – Industry Innovators (£79,834): To equip S1-S3 students with essential entrepreneurial skills, structured around specific skills and aligned with a real-world challenge set by local businesses.
Socialudo – Playing the Pathway to Entrepreneurship (£49,861): To co-produce and develop the game ‘Social Deal’ to provide a creative training package for use in both primary and secondary school level, introducing the different elements of business planning and business models.
Founders4Schools – Role Models for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow (£157,025): To scale their network of role models in Scotland, particularly in under-represented groups and develop their platform to ensure every educator has easy access to a network of entrepreneurs for S1-S6 pupils.
Powering Futures – Challenge for Education (£250,000): To deliver three programmes to enhance the understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset and the pathway to embed this work in future generations.
High School of Glasgow – START (£65,405): To develop a pilot for an interdisciplinary learning programme for Scottish schools. Teams of S6 pupils will be guided from problem solving to seed investment pitch and the pilot programme will take place in a select group of local authority schools in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The Pathways Fund totals £1.08 million

Successful recipients of the Pathways Fund:

Business Women Scotland – Programme for Growth (£40,000): Support for women in business, addressing the challenges they face in achieving significant growth through a comprehensive 2-day seminar and personalised guidance from
GrowBiz – Developing Women’s Rural Enterprises (£106,505): Supporting women and other underrepresented groups across rural and island areas of Scotland who are either considering self-employment, seeking to grow a venture, or considering ways of becoming a greener business.
Orkney Island Council – Entrepreneurial Islands project (£65,350): A coaching and mentoring programme for the Orkney islands to access tailored support, building enthusiasm and encouraging new business start-ups, while assisting business funding applications.
Investing Women Ltd – AccelerateHER (£200,000): This project delivers educational programmes and networking opportunities across Scotland to tackle the gender gap in accessing investment, by providing female business founders with relevant knowledge, skillsets, connections and opportunities needed to grow and scale their businesses.
Rebel Business School (Enjoy Training Ltd) – How to Start & Scale a Business for Female Founders (£49,970): Workshop programme will be delivered both virtually and in Glasgow to support women begin their journey.
Together Reaching Higher – Entrepreneurial Empowerment Pathways Hub (£52,590): This will transform a temporary simple drop-in service into a permanent, sustainable resource Hub for ethnic minorities in Glasgow, focusing on women. This will support aspiring entrepreneurs with mentorship, training, and resources to develop their social enterprises.
Inspirent Ltd – Women Can Grow! Bootcamp (£129,200): Building on from the success of Women Can! in 2023/24 this programme will provide women with practical support to move their startup beyond the initial planning, or early stage, to implementation within Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire.
Challenges Catalyst – Ready to RISE (Readiness & Incubation for the Social Economy) (£96,974): This programme, delivered in suburban areas of the central belt and Tayside, is aimed at mothers and others whose work prospects have been impacted by a career break because of caring responsibilities, migration, or health issues.
Edinburgh Chambers of Commerce – Women in Business: Entrepreneurial Growth Programme (£57,575): A programme to empower female founders with established businesses to expand, grow, and attract investment through training, coaching, and opportunities to connect with fellow female entrepreneurs in the Edinburgh region.
PeoplePlus – Supporting Women in Enterprise (£74,037): Supporting women within marginalised communities in Glasgow through a 12-week programme where Business Advisers will provide tailored business advice, training, and networking opportunities.
Robert Gordon University – RGU Women in Business: Starting up (£55,292): A 7-week flexible online enterprise programme offering expert consultancy support, and networking opportunities based in Aberdeenshire, tailored to the needs of mothers and care-givers.
Business Gateway East Renfrewshire – Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Business Accelerator For East Renfrewshire (£95,850): Seminars, workshops, events and direct 1-2-1 support to businesses within the Black and Asian Minority and Ethnic community in East Renfrewshire.
West Lothian Council – Women Entrepreneurs Growth Programme (£57,630): Workshops to support women in West Lothian from pre-start to pre-investment, providing networking and commercial pop-up shop opportunities.

Charity demands change as shock report unmasks hidden cost of abuse

A ground-breaking report from Hourglass, Economic Abuse by Numbers, has exposed the staggering social and economic costs of abuse against older people in the UK, revealing a hidden epidemic of financial exploitation that costs society billions of pounds each year.

Authored by Hourglass, the UK’s only charity focusing on ending the abuse of older people, the report calls for urgent action and funding to protect older victim-survivors. It underlines that their suffering has too often been ignored by policymakers and the public alike. It has been issued as part of the charity’s Safer Ageing Week 2024.

The report details that economic abuse is not just a crime — it is a devastating assault on the dignity, safety, and futures of older people.

Some of the key figures underline how the abuse of older people costs the UK over £16 billion annually, with this figure projected to rise to more than £25 billion per year by 2050 if urgent action is not taken.

Despite the overwhelming scale of the problem, specialist services for older victims receive less than £500,000 annually — less than 1% of the £85 million allocated for all-age domestic abuse services across the UK.

Describing the issue as ‘a crisis hidden in plain sight’ the study explains how older victim-survivors often lose vast sums of money, property, or savings they have spent decades accumulating.

Over the past three years alone, Hourglass has recorded over £53 million in reported financial losses from older victims contacting its 24/7 helpline. Yet, this is just the tip of the iceberg — only 14% of economic abuse cases report financial loss, meaning the true figures are likely far higher.

Shockingly, awareness of economic abuse remains critically low. A recent Hourglass/YouGov survey revealed alarming misconceptions among the public:

26% of respondents in England and Wales do not recognise using a Power of Attorney for personal financial gain as abuse.
32% of respondents in Northern Ireland do not recognise taking items from an older relative’s home without permission as a form of abuse.
29% in Wales and 27% in Scotland do not view attempts to change an older relative’s will as abuse.
16% in England and Scotland do not believe scams targeting older people count as abuse.

Hourglass CEO Richard Robinson, stated: “These figures underline a glaring problem — not only is economic abuse of older people pervasive, but it is also dangerously misunderstood.

“Older victims are being side-lined in policy discussions, and this report makes clear that the UK is failing to meet even the most basic standard of protection.

“The question is not whether we can afford this commitment, but rather, can we afford the alternative? Without ring fenced, long-term funding for specialist services, we are choosing to let economic abuse continue unchecked, to the tune of billions in human and financial cost.

“It’s time to end the silence, stand up for older victim-survivors, and demand that the all four governments and assemblies make their protection a priority – on par with any other crisis of abuse.”

The report highlights the stark economic case for investment in specialist services. Hourglass estimates that £300 million annually is required in England and Wales alone to remove the barriers to assistance and build a robust, proactive support system.

With older people contributing over £160 billion annually to the UK economy, the neglect of their safety and well-being is both a moral and economic failure.

Hourglass is calling for ring fenced, long-term funding and a comprehensive strategy to address abuse against older people, ensuring their protection is elevated to the same level of urgency as any other crisis of abuse.

As the Safer Ageing Week 2024 theme demands: Take Note. It is time to stop turning a blind eye to the financial and economic abuse of older people.

This is not only complicity — it is a choice to allow lives to be shattered and billions to be siphoned from an already overburdened system.

The report can be viewed here

The charity is urging those keen to support the charity during Safer Ageing Week to donate by visiting www.wearehourglass.org.uk/donate or Text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10.

Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS.

If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SAFERNOINFO to 70460.

The-Economic-Abuse-of-Older-People-by-the-Numbers Download

King’s Award for Edinburgh School Uniform Bank

We’re delighted to announce that Edinburgh School Uniform Bank has received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service – the equivalent of an MBE for an organisation.

This award celebrates the outstanding service of our volunteers who have been going the extra mile to support local families since 2015.

Margaret Civval, Chair of Edinburgh School Uniform Bank, said: “We are honoured that the commitment and dedication of our volunteers is recognised in this prestigious award.

“The service simply could not run without many volunteer hours on a weekly basis to enhance the lives of local families.”

#KAVS2024

Deliberate damage at Craigroyston

Last weekend, deliberate damage was done to our SFL garden area and a lot of mess made. This included broken fences and plant pots as well as damage to two scooters – so much so they are beyond repair

We don’t mind young people hanging around in our area at all as we want them to be safe, but we ask two things:

*Be respectful so things are not damaged

*Use the bins provided for any rubbish

We hope everyone in the Craigroyston community can help support us in this!