Large data centre applications are set to face more stringent environmental requirements.
The Scottish Government has published a planning direction which requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be submitted during planning for all new data centres with a power capacity exceeding 50 megawatts (MW).
This follows a direction last month requiring planning authorities to notify Scottish Ministers of all new data centre applications within seven days of validation.
Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad said: “The Scottish Government recognises that data centres are a rapidly evolving sector attracting a broad range of views, opinions and concerns, and that evidence on the environmental impact of data centres continues to develop.
“As this is an emerging industry, we have the opportunity to get this right from the start. The guidance issued today is the next step in that process.
“We must balance the economic and employment interests in developing data centres with national energy, climate and community wealth building ambitions, which are vital to our future prosperity, as well as the potential impact on local communities.
“Ensuring that an Environmental Impact Assessment is always part of the application process will create a level playing field for developers and will ensure potentially significant environmental effects are considered from the outset.”
The Scottish Greens expressed frustration at the decision: ‘SNP have teamed up with the Tories and Lib Dems.
‘They’ve voted down a Green motion which would have brought in a moratorium against new hyperscale AI data centres in Scotland.
‘Instead they’ve chosen to muddy the water, leaving confusion when our communities need certainty.’
Councillors have agreed to proceed with seven additional Visitor Levy-funded projects to protect and enhance heritage and cultural spaces across the city.
Following approval at Thursday’s Full Council meeting, transformative projects involving Leith Customs House, the Tron Kirk and the Portobello Kilns will be funded through the Levy’s Culture, Heritage and Events investment programme.
Meanwhile The Causey, Access to the Lost Shore and Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, City Centre Public Realm (including George Street and Princes Street), and developing a network of nature footpaths and walkways across the city will proceed under the Visitor Levy’s City Operations and Infrastructure programme.
Together, these projects are set to strengthen Edinburgh’s cultural offering, protect and revitalise nationally significant heritage buildings and public spaces, and improve access to natural and historic destinations across the city.
The seven projects were originally proposed at the special Visitor Levy budget meeting of the Council in February, where councillors agreed an overall funding package worth over £90 million over the next three years to sustain and enhance Edinburgh’s reputation as one of the most beautiful and enjoyable destinations in the world.
As with all of the other projects agreed under the Visitor Levy’s investment programmes, the proposals have been developed by Council officers, informed by feedback from public consultation and industry engagement, elected members and other stakeholders.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Our Visitor Levy is already beginning to strengthen the services and spaces that make our city so special and supporting these additional initiatives shows how we can continue to invest in projects that support a safer, more accessible and more welcoming Edinburgh for residents and visitors alike.
“Feedback from our partners and community groups across Edinburgh has played a central part in shaping these new proposals. From restoring the Portobello Kilns to improving public transport access to the Lost Shore and EICA, we’re confident these investments in our culture and heritage will deliver lasting benefits, encouraging visitors to see more of Edinburgh beyond our city centre.
“The projects reflect our ambition that the levy is a city-wide fund and spending decisions must be taken with the whole city in mind. We’re making sure Edinburgh continues to thrive and that the Visitor Levy delivers visible improvements for everyone who lives and works here all year round.”
ADDITIONAL PROJECTS OVERVIEW
Leith Customs House
Funding will support the development phase of restoring Leith Customs House, Scotland’s oldest Custom House and a Category A‑listed building.
The investment will enable essential preparatory work to progress the building’s transformation into an accessible community and creative hub, including delivering a proof‑of‑concept exhibition and an economic impact assessment to support future funding.
Tron Kirk
Investment has been approved towards the major restoration of the Tron Kirk, a landmark 17th‑century building on the Royal Mile that has been on the Buildings at Risk Register since 2023.
The funding will support a coordinated programme delivered by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, linking the restoration of the Tron Kirk with the redevelopment of Hunter Square.
The combined programme will repair and future‑proof the building, improve accessibility, protect vulnerable historic features and create new opportunities to develop local heritage skills and enhance visitor experiences.
Portobello Kilns
Investment has been approved to rebuild the 1906 Portobello Kiln, one of the last surviving industrial pottery kilns in Scotland and a key feature of the Portobello Conservation Area.
The project will restore the kiln to its original form alongside the previously conserved 1914 kiln, fulfilling the Council’s statutory obligations under scheduled monument consent and preventing further deterioration of this nationally significant heritage asset.
The project will be delivered in partnership with Portobello Heritage Trust and will be developed alongside wider proposed improvements to the Portobello Promenade through the Visitor Levy’s City Transformation Fund investment programme.
Nature Footpaths and Walkways
Funding has been approved to develop and improve nature footpaths and walkways across Edinburgh, encouraging visitors to explore destinations beyond the city centre such as the Pentland Hills, Cramond Foreshore and the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho.
The investment will support with developing designs, community engagement and works to create accessible, inclusive routes that enhance biodiversity, improve visitor experiences and deliver benefits for local communities.
The Causey
The Causey will transform West Cross Causeway into a people‑first public square with wider pavements, traffic calming measures and segregated cycling routes. Once complete, it will host performances, markets, art installations and community events.
The first phase will deliver core infrastructure improvements, while the second phase will extend upgrades towards Nicolson Street to improve connections with the wider area and improve public spaces.
Lost Shore & EICA Bus Services
A new six‑month trial bus service is providing direct links between the city centre, Lost Shore, EICA and Ratho. The trial will gather data on who uses the service to inform future decisions on a permanent service.
The amount of Visitor Levy funding supporting the service will be reviewed following the trial stage, reflecting the results of the data showing the proportion of visitors using the service.
City Centre Public Realm (Princes Street / George Street)
Funding will support potential work on major public realm upgrades across Princes Street and George Street to create more accessible, attractive and pedestrian‑friendly streets.
A report on the overall project will be brought to the Transport and Environment Committee outlining the need for public realm investment within the city centre, including both Princes Street and George Street.
These projects sit alongside those previously agreed in February to be delivered over the next three years, including (but not limited to):
Ambitious projects to renew and restore principal areas of Edinburgh, including investments in our town centre high streets and £2m and £2.5m respectively towards transforming the city’s key coastal visitor attractions at Cramond foreshore and Portobello Promenade.
£5m to restore Leith Theatre and create a year round culture and live music space, expanding cultural opportunity beyond the city centre.
£3m towards transforming the iconic Old Royal High School into a world class, accessible national centre for music, shaped by community engagement and open to all.
£2.75m to create a Market Street Arts Hub, reinvigorating the City Art Centre and creating a new arts and learning destination at one of the city’s major visitor gateways.
£3.85m to speed up the setted streets renewal programme and £3m for new and upgraded public toilets to maintain Edinburgh’s streets, public spaces and public infrastructure to a world-class standard.
Funding to ensure the city’s streets and open spaces are cleaned and kept to a high standard, including a £100,000 per year upgrade and replacement programme for bins in high footfall areas, £500,000 per annum to expand work to tackle graffiti through extra support for private businesses and £1.3m on additional operations services for the city centre (waste, cleansing, patrols).
Investing in our premier parks across the city to create improved spaces where the highest footfall and impact on the environment is experienced – and increases to the parks repairs budgets, while doubling the number of park rangers across the city.
Programmes to green the city with additional investment in planting, such as floral gateways, to improve the look and feel of the city’s green spaces as well as the overall visitor experience
In accordance with the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act (2024), funds raised by the levy must be reinvested in local facilities and services substantially used by business and leisure visitors. All investment streams will be formally reviewed alongside the overall scheme in 2029.
The effects of Scotland’s dry spring and summer are continuing to impact eastern Scotland, with four further areas days away from reaching the highest water scarcity level, potentially bringing the total at Significant Scarcity to eight.
The latest weekly Water Scarcity Report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) shows North Fife, Fife (East Neuk), Stonehaven and North Esk remain at Significant Scarcity.
Tay Estuary (North), Whiteadder Water, Berwickshire Coastal and the Lower Dee and Water of Feugh areas are now approaching the same level.
Six of these eight areas have already experienced Significant Scarcity this year.
Rainfall allowed river levels in the six previously affected areas to recover temporarily but did not reverse the underlying deficit which has built up over months of dry weather.
Recent rain has not brought lasting recovery
Further showery rain is forecast over the coming days. This may bring localised and short-term improvements, but sustained and widespread rainfall will be needed for a lasting recovery, particularly across eastern Scotland.
River flows remain low to very low across much of the east, with many catchments continuing to experience prolonged low flows. Ground conditions remain dry despite some recent improvement, while groundwater levels are also low to very low across much of the region.
Eilidh Johnston, SEPA Senior Leader in Compliance, said: “Looking out of the window, it may feel as though Scotland has had plenty of rain. But our monitoring shows that showers passing through have not reversed the effects of the prolonged dry weather.
“Think of exceptionally low river flows as the red zone on a car’s fuel gauge. Recent rain put some fuel back in the tank and helped these rivers move out of that red zone for a time, but it did not refill the tank. River levels have fallen again and the warning light is coming back on.
“That is why our decisions are based on environmental monitoring and long-term scientific evidence, not simply the weather we have experienced over the past few days. Our monitoring network allows us to see what is happening in rivers across Scotland and compare current conditions with records collected over many years.
“The question is not simply whether it rains, but how much rain falls, where it falls and whether it is sustained for long enough to replenish rivers, soils and groundwater.”
Compliance and resilience
SEPA carry out compliance inspections when areas reach Significant Scarcity to ensure temporary restrictions on licensed water abstraction are being followed. Inspections carried out in the Fife area have found 100% compliance.
Officers have also seen investment in off-line water storage, allowing water collected when it is available to be used later without adding pressure to rivers when flows are critically low.
While most seasonal irrigation has now ended, some farmers still require water for later crops, including brassicas. Investment in storage means those businesses are more resilient and better able to continue operating towards the end of the growing season.
Eilidh added: “Our inspections in Fife have found excellent compliance with the restrictions that are in place. We have also seen the benefit of businesses planning ahead and investing in resilience, including off-line storage which reduces their reliance on rivers when water levels are critically low.
“Businesses which abstract water should continue to check the latest information, follow their water scarcity plans and use water as efficiently as possible.”
What does significant scarcity mean
Significant Scarcity is reached when river flows at a representative monitoring station remain below Q95 for 30 consecutive days. Q95 is an exceptionally low flow which, based on long-term records, would on average only occur 18 days per year.
If low flows continue and the four approaching areas reach the threshold, affected licence holders will be required to stop abstracting water. Most seasonal irrigation in those areas has already ended, but formal restrictions will still be issued where applicable to protect rivers and the wildlife that depend on them.
Restrictions are targeted and temporary. They are kept under regular review and lifted when conditions improve sufficiently.
SEPA publish weekly Water Scarcity Reports throughout the summer, using information from Scotland’s environmental monitoring network to provide advance warning of changing conditions and help water users plan ahead.
Anyone can monitor local conditions using SEPA’s online Drought Risk Assessment Tool, which shows how close monitoring stations are to reaching Significant Scarcity.
Two men who were involved in significant disorder during Halloween and Bonfire Night 2024 have been sentenced.
On the 31 October, Jamie Hogg was part of a group of individuals who caused significant damage to the outside of Moredun House, Marytee House, Little France House and Castleview House, Craigour Green, Edinburgh by smashing 45 windows, causing approximately £50,000 worth of damage.
This group were also involved in setting off fireworks towards members of the public.
On the 5 November, Jamie Hogg and Kevin Lankiewicz smashed windows of a convenience store on Moredun Park Road, Edinburgh and set off fireworks towards members of the public and vehicles causing significant disruption to the community.
As a result of inquiries conducted by Edinburgh officers as part of Operation Crackle, the pair were subsequently arrested and charged in November 2024 and thereafter sentenced on 15 September 2026.
Jamie Hogg, who is now 19, was given an 18-month custodial sentence, while 22-year-old Kevin Lankiewicz was given a Restriction of Liberty Order that prohibits him leaving his home address between 7pm and 5am each day.
Supt Neil Wilson from Edinburgh Division said: “In 2024 we saw various incidents of unacceptable disorder and violence across the city during the Halloween and Bonfire Night period and both Hogg and Lankiewicz played a significant role in the offences experienced within the Moredun area.
“Extensive evidence was gathered prior to their arrests, and this subsequently resulted in their conviction and sentencing, which is a timely reminder ahead of Bonfire Night 2026 that we will utilise all resources at our disposal to bring those responsible for such offences to justice.”
Strange Town Touring Company presents: BALISONG by Jennifer Adam
Touring to Edinburgh secondary schools, public performances at The Traverse Theatre, 25th & 26th Sept at 7pm
“The show deserves to be seen as many young people as possible” – Audience member reaction to HER
BALISONG is a story about Finlay Richards. A name the everyone at school knows. An average fifteen-year old boy who just wants to be seen. But you won’t see Finn. You won’t ever meet him.
BALISONG is a play written for young adults which promotes positive and active citizenship among young people when they become aware of a pupil carrying a knife.
Recommissioned three times, BALISONG has toured schools in every local authority in Scotland. It was nominated for the Partnership Award at the Herald Society Awards and the Collaboration Award at the Creative Edinburgh Awards in 2018.
This new production of BALISONG is part of the Knife Angel Project – raising awareness of the dangers of carrying knives and the impact of violence.
In addition to touring Edinburgh schools, BALISONG there will be two public performances on Fri 25th & Sat 26thSept at 7pm.
Listings information
Venue: The Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Theatre, EH1 2ED
Scotland’s national children’s charity is urging Edinburgh families worried about energy bills to get in touch with its support line to check if they can benefit from the Warm Home Discount.
The charity’s support line team provides practical advice to families struggling with the cost of gas and electricity, including support to access benefits, grants and other help with household bills to lower their bills and keep their homes warm.
The Warm Homes Discount scheme provides a £150 discount on electricity bills for eligible households. While some households in Scotland will receive the discount automatically, others may need to contact their electricity supplier to apply so it is important to act as soon as possible before the scheme opens on 1 October.
Children First can help families understand whether they may be eligible for the Warm Homes Discount, support them through the application process and provide other practical, financial or emotional support their family may need.
In 2025, the charity put £1.8 million in financial gains back in families’ pockets.
Linda Jardine, Director of Children and Family Services at Children First, said: “The Warm Home Discount could provide valuable help towards energy costs for eligible households, but knowing whether you qualify and understanding how to apply can sometimes feel confusing.
“With colder weather and longer nights putting increased pressure on household energy use, families don’t need to face financial worries on their own. If you’re concerned about keeping your home warm, struggling to afford your energy bills or simply unsure what support you may be entitled to, please get in touch with our Children First support line.
“You don’t need to wait until you’re in a crisis to get in touch for help.
“If you are not eligible for Warm Home Discount, our friendly team can provide free, expert advice and help you access other support.”
Parents and carers in Edinburgh can contact the Children First support line on 08000 28 22 33 or start a webchat at childrenfirst.org.uk/supportline.
Charities, community groups and not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £5,000 to strengthen mental health and wellbeing across Edinburgh
A new round of the Edinburgh Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund opens on Friday 18 September 2026, offering grants of up to £5,000 for community-led projects supporting adults’ mental health and wellbeing across the city.
The Fund is distributed by Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC) on behalf of the Scottish Government. Applications will remain open until Wednesday 18 November 2026. After an assessment process, successful organisations will have one year in which to spend their award after payment in March 2027.
The Fund is designed to tackle mental health inequalities, reduce social isolation and loneliness, support suicide prevention, and respond to poverty and inequality. It has a strong focus on prevention, early intervention and community connection, particularly for people who face socio-economic disadvantage or are at greater risk of poor mental health.
The round is open to charitable and not-for-profit organisations, constituted and unconstituted community groups, and other eligible organisations providing services in Edinburgh with an annual turnover of £2 million or less.
Funding can support practical costs including equipment and materials, one-off events, hall and room hire, participation costs, staffing, training, transport, utilities, volunteer expenses and safety equipment. Capital costs of up to £5,000 may also be considered.
Previous grant holders have shown how small, locally rooted projects can create meaningful change. Across Edinburgh, funded activity has helped people move from isolation into friendship and community participation, supported parents and carers to recognise that their own mental health matters, and created accessible opportunities through art, physical activity, peer support and volunteering.
Bruce Crawford, EVOC’s CEO said:“Community organisations understand their neighbourhoods and the people they support. This Fund helps turn that knowledge into practical activity that can reduce isolation, build confidence and create stronger connections. Previous grant holders have shown that even a relatively small award can unlock lasting change.
“We want to hear from grassroots groups with a clear idea, strong local relationships and an understanding of how their work will contribute to the Fund’s aims. We particularly welcome applications that clearly describe the difference the project will make and how local people have helped shape it.”
EVOC will host an online information and question-and-answer webinar for prospective applicants. The session will explain the Fund, eligibility, priorities, and application process, with time for questions.
Organisations considering an application can book the webinar through Eventbrite.
Full guidance and the application form are available here. Applications open on Friday 18 September 2026 and close on Wednesday 18 November 2026.
In Fashion: Edinburgh College of Art Alumni in Conversation takes place TODAY – Friday 18 September – as part of Westfield Days: The Sound of Style
Westfield St James Quarter will bring together four Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) fashion alumni on Friday 18 September, who have gone on to build careers across independent fashion, illustration and bespoke tailoring, for a conversation on what it takes to forge a career in the fashion industry.
In Fashion: Edinburgh College of Art Alumni in Conversation is one of the closing events of Westfield Days: The Sound of Style, the ten-day fashion and music takeover curated by Scottish designer Charles Jeffrey to mark the centre’s rebrand to Westfield St James Quarter on 10 September.
Hosted by Professor Mal James, Personal Chair of Fashion at ECA, the panel brings together:
Samantha McCoach, Founder and Designer of Le Kilt, the Leith-born, Scottish-made label stocked at Dover Street Market, Matches and Selfridges. In 2025, Le Kilt joined forces with COS for a capsule collection rooted in craftsmanship and heritage, which was sold at COS in the Quarter.
Rosie Baird, Founder of BAIRD, a Scottish clothing brand launched in 2025 exploring modern Scottish identity through craft and storytelling. Rosie was also responsible for the tartan created for St James Quarter in 2022.
Katie Braid, fashion illustrator, educator and FIDA Award winner, whose work has been exhibited internationally and shown at V&A Dundee.
Alistair Nimmo, Head Cutter and Managing Director of Kathryn Sargent Bespoke Tailoring’s Edinburgh atelier, and a 2025 Walpole Powerlist honouree.
Together, the four alumni represent very different routes into the fashion industry, from launching independent Scottish labels to working as an illustrator and building a career in the highly specialised world of bespoke tailoring.
The panellists will discuss the transition from studying at ECA to building careers across ready-to-wear, illustration and bespoke tailoring, offering practical advice on portfolios, creative practice and navigating the industry after graduation. A Q&A and informal meet-the-panellists session will follow the discussion.
Professor Mal James, Personal Chair of Fashion at Edinburgh College of Art, said: “One of the most valuable things we can offer the next generation of fashion talent is an honest insight into what comes after graduation.
“There is no single route into the industry, and our alumni have gone on to build careers across very different areas of fashion, from independent labels and illustration to the highly specialised world of bespoke tailoring.
“Bringing them together at Westfield St James Quarter gives students and emerging creatives the chance to hear directly about those journeys, the challenges they have faced and the opportunities they have created for themselves.”
Presented in partnership with the British Fashion Council as part of the nationwide Fashion Britain initiative, Westfield Days: The Sound of Style has run from 10 to 20 September and included Charles Jeffrey’s own Listening Room installation, built from his personal archive and soundscapes, and the PUNK FLEA MARKET, a limited-time pop-up of archival LOVERBOY pieces and accessories, alongside a wider programme of talks, workshops and live music.
Anne Ledgerwood, Estate Director at Westfield St James Quarter, said: “Fashion careers rarely follow a straight line, and this conversation with four ECA graduates who’ve built such different paths – from bespoke tailoring to independent Scottish labels – feels like the right way to bring Westfield Days: The Sound of Style to a close. It’s a reminder that Edinburgh doesn’t just watch the fashion industry, it produces it.”
The event is free to attend and is aimed at students, emerging creatives and anyone interested in pursuing a career in Scotland’s fashion industry.
The conversation reflects Westfield Days: The Sound of Style’s focus on connecting fashion, music, creativity and emerging talent, while highlighting Edinburgh’s contribution to the wider UK fashion industry.
Event details In Fashion: Edinburgh College of Art Alumni in Conversation Date/ Time: Friday 18 September, 3:30pm–4:15pm Venue: Listening Rooms, Level 3, St James Quarter, Edinburgh Booking link: here.
SUCCESS AT LAST FOR THE CAUSEY AFTER NINETEEN YEAR CAMPAIGN
Council backing will unlock the permanent transformation of the historic Southside space into a greener, safer and more welcoming place for residents and visitors.
A 19-year community campaign to transform The Causey in Edinburgh’s Southside is set to become reality following approval of £1.86 million from the city’s Visitor Levy programme.
The investment will enable the permanent transformation of West Crosscauseway and its traffic island into a vibrant, people-focused public place, with widened pavements, traffic-calming measures, segregated cycling facilities and a new accessible public space.
Combined with £300,000 already being provided through the Council’s core budget, the funding will support delivery of the project’s two phases over the next two years. The published Visitor Levy recommendation comprises £462,000 towards key infrastructure improvements at the Causey Triangle and £1.4 million for the second phase, extending the work towards Nicolson Street to improve connectivity and the wider public realm.
The decision represents a defining moment for a project first conceived in 2007, when the late Edinburgh architect Alison Blamire transformed the neglected traffic island into a temporary “tropical island”, allowing local people to experience its potential as a place for people rather than vehicles.
Alison Blamire also gave the space its name: “The Causey” derives from the “cassies” or “causeys” – the cobbled setts that paved Edinburgh’s earliest streets, likely quarried from nearby Salisbury Crags. Since then, The Causey has grown into one of Edinburgh’s longest-running community placemaking campaigns.
Local residents have sustained the vision through workshops, exhibitions, consultations, creative events, street activations and regular “Sit Oots”, building support for a permanent transformation of the space. Previous coverage has highlighted the project’s long community history and the persistence required to overcome funding delays and other setbacks.
The project has previously been hailed as an exemplary community initiative and has been developed through collaboration between Causey Development Trust, local residents, City of Edinburgh Council officers, the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, Edinburgh World Heritage and landscape architects Ironside Farrar. The current council papers formally describe it as a community-led project and recognise that it originated as a community initiative.
Sarah Drummond, Chair of Causey Development Trust, said:“This is a transformational moment for The Causey and the culmination of 19 years of extraordinary determination by local people.
“What began with local architect Alison Blamire’s inspired transformation of a traffic island into a tropical island can now become the permanent, welcoming and people-focused space that the community has always known was possible.
“This is a powerful example of what community-led action can achieve. Local people have shaped the vision, sustained it through years of setbacks and continued to demonstrate how this neglected space could bring people together.
“The Causey also shows exactly how Visitor Levy investment can work for Edinburgh. It will improve everyday life for residents while creating a greener, safer and more welcoming experience for visitors moving through the city’s Southside and festival footprint.
“We are enormously grateful to everyone who has kept faith with this project, including our volunteers, local residents and businesses, councillors from across the political spectrum, council officers and the many partner organisations who have helped us reach this point. This investment means that, after nearly two decades, the community’s full vision can finally be delivered.”
Located on the edge of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site and within the Southside Conservation Area, The Causey sits on a busy route connecting residential communities with major cultural, educational and visitor destinations.
It is within walking distance of Assembly Roxy, Festival Theatre, Summerhall, George Square and Edinburgh Futures Institute, home of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. The Council’s Visitor Levy assessment specifically identifies the site’s location within Edinburgh’s festival footprint and the benefits it can offer festivalgoers as well as residents.
The transformed space will be designed to support informal gatherings and community-led activity, as well as potential outdoor performances, pop-up markets, art installations and exhibitions. New public-realm and active-travel infrastructure will create a safer, more attractive environment for people walking, wheeling and cycling.
The project builds on the implementation of the Traffic Regulation Order in July 2026, which introduced the first physical changes at the site following the long-running campaign.
The permanent capital works will complete the wider vision for The Causey as a civic space for culture, connection and community life.
