THURSDAY 4th SEPTEMBER from 4 – 7pm or respond ONLINE
We are progressing designs for improvements to the area surrounding the Drylaw Shopping Centre.
The proposals aim to address existing issues within the shopping centre, such as; sustainability, accessibility, car parking, vehicular movement, aesthetic appeal, sight lines and safety.
The Drylaw Shopping Centre forms part of the wider Drylaw and Telford Masterplan one of the 13 proposed improvement projects that aim to reimagine local streets and public spaces, making them healthier, more accessible, and nature-positive – while also tackling surface water and flooding challenges in the area.
To help refine the concept designs, we will be conducting a drop-in community and business engagement session at the Shopping Centre on the below date.
Please feel free to visit to give your views on the designs:
Location: Next to Farmfoods at Drylaw Shopping Centre, 661 Ferry Road Date: Thursday 4th September 2025 Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Consultation Hub Online Survey:
In addition to the in person engagement, a survey for the project is now live on The City of Edinburgh Council’s Consultation Hub and will run until 8th October 2025.
Please find a link to the survey here and to find out more:
A ‘major public consultation’ on the future development of Edinburgh’s tram network opened yesterday (25 August) and will run for 12 weeks.
The Council are seeking the public’s views on the proposed new tram routes from Granton in the north of the city to the Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the south.
A detailed business case was developed to extend the existing route from Edinburgh Airport to Newhaven, which was successfully completed in 2023 and now carries over a million passengers a month.
This consultation will inform the development of a Strategic Business Case (SBC) for the expansion, which will then be presented to the Transport and Environment Committee in 2026.
The proposed new route can be broken down into three main sections:
GRANTON TO THE CITY CENTRE:
From Granton to Ferry Road / Crewe Toll there is a single route. From Ferry Road / Crewe Toll to the following section, two alternative route options are being considered: the Orchard Brae corridor or the Roseburn Path.
For Orchard Brae, the route would head to the west end of Princes Street along Orchard Brae, Queensferry Road (via the Dean Bridge) and Queensferry Street.
It is estimated that this option would cost between £650m – £850m and is forecast to carry around 3.75m passengers per annum by 2042.
For Roseburn Path, the route connects to the existing line west of Haymarket via an old railway line which winds from Ferry Road/Crewe Toll before reaching Craigleith and heading towards the west end and city centre.
This option is estimated to cost between £350m-£480m and is forecast to carry around 4.25m passengers per annum by 2042.
It also examines the potential to install high quality walking, wheeling and cycling alongside the tramline on the Roseburn Path, and look at the potential to protect and enhance the local ecological network.
The entire route is forecast to cost between £2bn-2.9bn, depending on the final options selected, and carry around 38m passengers by 2042.
CITY CENTRE TO BIOQUARTER & ROYAL INFIRMARY
The proposed route would begin at Princes Street on the existing tram infrastructure, allowing bus and rail interchange in the heart of the city centre.
The route would then cross the North Bridge, and run through Nicolson Street, Newington and on to Cameron Toll, then west towards the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
POTENTIAL EXTENSIONS TO MIDLOTHIAN and EAST LOTHIAN
The city council is working closely with Midlothian and East Lothian Councils and SEStran, the regional transport partnership, regarding potential future mass transit connections beyond the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary.
This includes exploring a ‘tram-train’ (a light rail vehicle than can operate on tram and rail tracks) concept with Network Rail on the old Edinburgh South Suburban Railway (ESSR).
Other potential options include connections with Musselburgh Railway station and Queen Margaret University (QMU) in East Lothian and to Shawfair with interchange opportunities into Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m pleased that we’ve reached this key stage for extending our multi award-winning tram service.
“We need to prepare for the future. Edinburgh is the fastest growing city in Scotland, with more than 60,000 new residents expected over the next 20 years. Whilst this shift is a true sign of our success, it brings real pressure on our communities, and crucially on the city’s transport infrastructure on which we all rely.
“Managing this growth also means tackling the climate, nature and housing emergencies. To meet these significant challenges, we need to look for bold and ambitious solutions and the tram extension is central to this.
“Edinburgh Trams already offers a reliable and fast service, allowing residents and visitors to move around sustainably and efficiently, and with some of the cheapest fares in the country. The broader benefits of cleaner air and emphasis on active travel surrounding the network are equally as important.
“Our overarching vision is to truly link our city for the benefit of all. From our flagship £1.3bn development at Granton Waterfront through to the city centre, our world-famous universities, cultural hubs, brilliant local businesses, new housing developments, hospitals and beyond; our transport network must move with the times.
“The new developments we will see along the tram route will be key to Edinburgh’s prosperity for generations to come.
“I’d encourage everyone to engage with this consultation and help to shape the next chapter in the history of Edinburgh’s transport.”
The full details of all the sections mentioned above can be found in the consultation papers.
Residents can give their views until 17 November online on the Consultation Hub or at in person drop-in sessions. Details of these sessions are also on our Consultation Hub.
The next step, should members agree on the SBC, would be to move to the next stage of development, as set out by Transport Scotland, which is the OBC.
DROP-IN SESSIONS
Drop-in at Blackhall Primary SchoolFrom 2 Sep 2025 at 16:00 to 2 Sep 2025 at 19:00More informationBlackhall Primary School, 83 Craigcrook Road, EH4 3PH Add to my Calendar (.ics)
Not to mention fun activities in the garden, face painting and henna tattoos, a bake sale, puppet shows, apple pressing, our famous tombola, and amazing raffle with locally donated prizes… And yes, there is a bouncy castle!!!
Don’t miss out on all the fun on Saturday 13th September!
Fancy a bit of family fun in the Drylaw secret orchard this Wednesday? Come along for a free outdoor activity session with Paul our gardener and Alia our youth worker.
There will be snacks, drinks, craft, gardening, and tree care going on in a relaxed and informal setting within the beautiful orchard on Easter Drylaw Avenue.
Wednesday 6th August
10.30 meet at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
OR: 10.45 meet at East Orchard, between 6 and 8 Easter Drylaw Avenue.
Nature craft and gardening activities. Relaxed and friendly staff.
FREE! Please bring sunhats, water bottles and suncream- it’s going to be warm!
Interested in cycling and bike maintenance? Come meet us and find out what ELREC Cycling Club has in store for you!
The free session will cover tips to keep your bike in top condition with demonstrations on puncture repair, brake and cable adjustments. It is informal, social, hands on, and above all fun!
Date and time:
Friday, July 25 · 10:30am – 12:30pm GMT+1. Doors at 10:20am
Location: Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
67B Groathill Road North Edinburgh EH4 2SA
About this event:
Event lasts 2 hours
Ages 16+
Free venue parking
Language: English
Target: New Scots (people of any nationality who have immigrated or moved to Scotland), with a basic understanding of English
Remarks:
Light refreshments will be provided
The event will be held in a sheltered area
Please do let us know if you have any access requirements prior to the event
We expect all participants to be friendly and kind, and to show respect for individual differences, including race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, age, nationality, and identity
Disclaimer: Personal data collected will be used for this event or contact purpose solely
For enquiries, please email our Community Link Officer at cadence@elrec.org.uk.
Something for the school holidays! Check out the poster for details – meet us at the centre (or at the Orchard 10:30 onwards) and we’ll head over to the Orchards for some family fun time!
A huge well done to DAY-TODAY DRYLAW & PREMIER MUIRHOUSE
They went out of their way to give five local schools some goodies for the primary 7 leavers last week (writes DEAN LOUGHTON).
yesterday morning was such a mad rush trying to get stock for the p7s at five local primary schools, we managed to get round the five schools with our donations and each school was overwhelmed with the donation – and so were the P7s!
As the goodies were being brought in to school there were some P7s floating around getting their tops signed but luckily enough they never spotted what was on the trolley!
Location: Next to Farmfoods at Drylaw Shopping Centre, 661 Ferry Road
Date: Thursday 4th September 2025
Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
10.30 meet at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
Nature craft and gardening activities. Relaxed and friendly staff.
Wednesdays: 9, 16, 23 & 30 July
10am – 1pm
North Edinburgh Arts, Macmillan Hub, 12c Macmillan Square, EH4 4AB
Free to attend, but places are limited – all materials provided!
To sign up: Email 
Call 0131 315 2151
Or drop by the NEA Welcome Desk (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)
