More than 40 lawyers from across the globe traded boardrooms for wellies last week, teaming up with Morton Fraser MacRoberts (MFMac) and the Water of Leith Conservation Trust (WOLCT) for a morning of hands-on volunteering.
Volunteers split into teams to carry out a range of task to look after the Water of Leith walkway, including cutting back overgrown vegetation, sweeping up leaves and litter picking locally to stop rubbish getting into the river.
The clean-up formed part of Interlaw’s Annual Global Meeting in Edinburgh, where senior lawyers from over 80 countries gathered for four days of knowledge-sharing and international collaboration.
This year marks the first time the conference has been hosted in Scotland for almost 40 years. Edinburgh headquartered MFMac – this year’s host – organised the clean-up event as a way to make a positive impact and help protect the natural environment that makes Edinburgh a beautiful and inspiring place to live and work.
Chris Harte, Chief Executive Officer at Morton Fraser MacRoberts: “Interlaw is a powerful network bringing hundreds of delegates to Edinburgh and this clean-up has been a great opportunity to give something back to our host city while they’re visiting.
“The Water of Leith is a landmark that flows through many of Edinburgh’s local communities, so it’s been a privilege to organise a meaningful activity to protect it. We know how packed our colleagues’ schedules are so we’re grateful to everyone who rolled up their sleeves!”
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Johnny Wells, Ranger from the Water of Leith Conservation Trust, said:“The Water of Leith is an amazing green corridor for both people and wildlife in Edinburgh, support like this makes a real difference allowing us to care for it.
“We’re very grateful to MFMac for involving us in their programme and for highlighting the importance of looking after this special place.”
Leith Central Community Council has now agreed its final position on Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) developments.
Leith already has two-thirds of all PBSA beds in Edinburgh – 6,332 out of 9,873 citywide. Despite this, developers keep proposing more blocks, even though Leith has no university campus and our area gains little direct benefit.
We believe further PBSA expansion:
– takes up land that should be used for affordable homes for families and key workers
– adds pressure on local transport, health services and infrastructure
– undermines community balance and diversity
– conflicts with Edinburgh’s wider housing strategy
Leith is proud to welcome students as part of our diverse community, but the scale of PBSA development is now out of proportion and unsustainable.
LCCC is calling for a moratorium on any new PBSA developments in Leith.
We want future developments to focus instead on affordable, family-friendly and mixed-use housing that supports long-term residents and the local economy.
We’ll continue to work with other community councils, housing organisations and Edinburgh Council to make sure Leith’s voice is heard as part of the city’s Local Housing Strategy and upcoming planning guidance on student accommodation.
SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER from 10am – 1pm at VICTORIA PARK
Join us at our new crofts for a day of creativity, connection, and community spirit!
Meet the team behind the redevelopment of our urban space, get hands-on with soil investigations, hula-hoop making or simply come by for a chat with us and your neighbours.
An 81-year-old man has died following a crash on Annandale Street in Edinburgh at the junction with Haddington Place. The incident happened on Sunday, 28 September, around 1.20am, and involved the man and a bus.
He was taken to hospital by the Scottish Ambulance Service where he died on Saturday, 4 October. No one else was injured.
Sergeant Louise Birrell said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man who died and they have asked for privacy.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and we are asking anyone with information that could help who has not already spoken to officers to get in touch.”
Anyone who can assist is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0302 of Sunday, 28 September, 2025.
Tracy Gilbert MP has welcomed significant UK-wide investment in community renewable energy projects, which will deliver tangible benefits for local communities in Scotland.
The Great British Energy initiative is backing a total of £4 million into the UK’s community energy sector, supporting 48 community energy projects across Scotland, including two major developments in Edinburgh North and Leith.
Granton Project CIC – Harnessing solar power for community growth, receiving £70,043.
Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op (Phase 3) – Developing local solar capacity, awarded £484,500.
Tracy Gilbert MP said:“These investments demonstrate the UK Government’s commitment to renewable energy and to supporting communities across the country. I am pleased that two of these are in my constituency in Edinburgh North and Leith, which is becoming a true renewables hub.
“The projects will not only generate clean energy but also empower local communities with long-term benefits. Initiatives like these are helping to build a greener, more sustainable future for everyone.”
The Great British Energy investment is part of a wider effort to drive community energy generation growth across Scotland and the UK, ensuring that local areas can take an active role in the renewable energy transition.
A planning application for the £69m retrofit of the two buildings, submitted by Collective Architecture, was approved by Development Management Sub-Committee on Wednesday (1 October).
Work will include substantial upgrades to ensure the two Category A listed buildings meet the Scottish Government’s Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing – EESSH2. This is alongside wider improvements to bring the buildings in line with modern new-build standards.
The City of Edinburgh Council, in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, is leading the transformative retrofit programme, aiming to dramatically improve energy performance, reduce carbon emissions and enhance living standards for residents. This team brings together expertise in architecture, engineering, energy strategy, carbon analysis and landscape design.
Cables Wynd House and Linksview House were both built in Leith in the 1960s and together provide 310 homes, the majority of which are owned by the Council for social rent.
Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “I am delighted that the necessary planning consent for our plans to upgrade Cables Wynd House and Linksview House to provide safe, energy efficient and high-quality homes for residents there has been granted, enabling these long-awaited works to get underway, hopefully at pace.
“I am also grateful to residents for their proactive and positive engagement with us to shape the Council’s £69 million commitment to improving Cables Wynd and Linksview House – from campaigning for investment in their homes to participating in the consultation process and providing invaluable insight and input into our design proposals.”
Carl Baker, Architect, Passivhaus Certified Designer, Collective Architecture, said:“We’re thrilled that our retrofit proposals for Cables Wynd House and Linksview House have been granted planning permission and listed building consent.
“These approvals represent a major milestone in the life of two of Edinburgh’s most iconic post-war housing developments, both Category A listed and celebrated for their bold architectural character and social significance.
“Our proposals reflect Collective Architecture’s distinctive approach to retrofit, which carefully balances ambitious improvements to energy performance with the sensitive conservation and celebration of these landmark buildings, situated at the heart of a conservation area.
“This success is the result of a truly collaborative effort across the project team, including the expertise of our in-house specialists at Collective Energy and Collective Conservation.
“We’re excited to move into the next phase of the project and look forward to transforming these historic flats into warm, safe, and resilient places to live, fit for today’s residents and generations to come.”
Amongst the improvements that will be made are:
Energy Efficiency Upgrades: Improved insulation, window replacements, and energy-efficient heating systems to meet EESSH2 standards.
Fire Safety Enhancements: Installation of sprinkler systems, smoke ventilation, a new fire-fighting lift, and improved fire compartmentalisation in communal areas. The removal of legacy bin chutes and inclusion of internal waste management facilities will also contribute to enhanced fire safety.
Resident Safety and Security: Upgraded internal and external lighting, a comprehensive review of CCTV systems, and improved access control throughout the buildings.
Landscape and Placemaking Improvements: The refurbishment project presents a unique opportunity to reimagine the outdoor environment surrounding both towers. Proposals include new play areas, external seating, wildflower meadows, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), and a full review of parking and waste facilities.
The project exemplifies how collaboration across disciplines can accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment while delivering meaningful social impact.
Alongside the Council and Collective Architecture, the project team includes a wide range of expert organisations, with AtkinsRéalis as lead consultant and Collective Energy providing energy and sustainability consultation. Expertise in mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering is being provided by Blackwood Partnership, in structural engineering by Narro Associates and in landscaping by Urban Pioneers Landscape Architects.
The Council will continue to engage closely with residents throughout the design and construction process to make sure their needs are met.
The Leith Collective launches annual Winter Coat Exchangeand hopes to make it more accessible than ever
With the temperature beginning to drop and energy prices continuing to rise, one local Community Interest Company is warning of the extreme measures some Edinburgh families are resorting to just to stay warm.
Last year, The Leith Collective was responsible for redistributing more than 11,000 coats to those in need as part of their annual Winter Coat Exchange.
Many of those who benefitted from this initiative reported having to sleep in multiple layers of coats because they could not afford to switch on their heating. So this year, the team are calling on businesses, organisations, charities, community groups and individuals to get behind their campaign to bring warmth, comfort and dignity to even more people struggling this winter.
Launching TODAY on Wednesday 1st October, The Leith Collective is aiming to open official Winter Coat Exchange Collection Points right across the country. Here, members of the public will be able to donate good quality coats, and those in need can help themselves – free of charge, no questions asked.
Speaking ahead of the launch, The Leith Collective founder Sara Thomson said; “The number of families struggling to afford even basic essentials such as a warm winter coat is heartbreaking.
“So, this year we want our Winter Coat Exchange to be more accessible than ever. We want to see official Winter Coat Exchange Collection Points in every town and city across Scotland so that coats can be kept out of landfill and passed on to those who truly need them.”
One organisation keen to sign up to the scheme once again this year is the Edinburgh CIC, Let the People Sing. Founder Vicky Scoular said; “Many people struggling to make ends meet simply can’t afford to travel to pick up a coat, so it’s important that as many organisations as possible sign up to become an official Winter Coat Exchange Collection Point to make it accessible.
“We all have an important part to play in the fight against poverty.”
Organisations can sign up to become an official Winter Coat Exchange Collection Point at www.we-relove.com, the sustainable online marketplace from The Leith Collective.
The website also enables individuals in need to enter their postcode and find their nearest collection point, so they can get a quality coat without charge and without judgement.
ENTER WATCHED. EXIT AWARE: TREVOR JONES UNVEILS EXPOS3D, A RADICAL IMMERSIVE ART EXPERIENCE IN EDINBURGH
12–18 October 2025 | Custom House, Edinburgh
Acclaimed artist Trevor Jones recently announced the launch of EXPOS3D, a groundbreaking immersive exhibition that fuses painting, sculpture, stained glass, artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology into an experience unlike anything the art world has seen.
For one week only – from 12 to 18 October – the historic Custom House in Leith will be transformed into a living system of interactive artworks, augmented reality and AI-driven installations.
At its centre is LOGOS, an all-seeing artificial intelligence that challenges audiences to reconsider how we live, think, and rebel in the age of technology.
EXPOS3D explores three defining tensions of our time:
Surveillance: the omnipresent gaze of technology that monitors, predicts, and controls
Faith: the shift from religious and cultural traditions toward new digital dependencies
Rebellion: the human instinct to resist, to question, and to reclaim freedom in the face of control
The result is a multi-sensory exhibition where visitors do not simply observe, but become participants in shaping their own digital world.
Key Works & Experiences
Giant AI-animated paintings that evolve in real time
LOGOS, an artificial intelligence entity that learns and reacts to viewers
The Sacaramemes, seven oil paintings that watch you as you watch them
Eyes of LOGOS, interactive installations that follow, recognise, and even call you by name
Immersive rewards system, where visitors unlock exclusive digital and physical gifts via the EXPOS3D app
Trevor Jones explains:“This is not an attack on tradition. It’s an observation of how much our world has changed.
“Where once people turned to God for answers, we now turn to machines. As the roots of faith weaken, we must confront what has been lost, what has been gained, and what it means for our future.”
LED light – LOGOS (I Am The WORD)
A Seismic Shift
EXPOS3D responds to a profound cultural transformation: as religion loses its central role, technology steps into the vacuum, with phones, algorithms, and surveillance systems increasingly shaping human behaviour, choices, and beliefs. The exhibition challenges audiences to confront this shift and ask:
What is gained when machines take the place of gods?
Leith already has two-thirds of all PBSA beds in Edinburgh – 6,332 out of 9,873 citywide. Despite this, developers keep proposing more blocks, even though Leith has no university campus and our area gains little direct benefit.
LCCC is calling for a moratorium on any new PBSA developments in Leith.
You can read our full position paper here 
Victoria Park — Saturday, 11 Oct, 10am – 1pm
