BUYERS looking for an ‘uncompromising’ three bedroom home in the city are being urged to visit the dream duplexes available at The Crescent – CALA Homes’ most award winning development.
Spanning more than 2000sq ft, more than twice the size of an average home in the UK, the popular style of split-level home is nestled in the Richard Murphy OBE-designed development, within the vast Donaldson’s Estate, a stone’s throw from Haymarket and Edinburgh’s city centre.
Spanning two floors, the home’s centrepiece is a one-and-a-half height fully glazed flexible living space, allowing for impressive immediate panoramas of the iconic Playfair building and beyond, with full height sliding doors which effortlessly fold back to allow the outside in.
A studio-designed high specification kitchen and dining space overlook a more private family or relaxing area, with a separate utility providing added practicality.
Its rare split-level dynamic design also allows for a craftily tucked away “crows’ nest” study, distinct but not detached from the expansive living space, with an abundance of storage beneath and breathtaking views.
Three en-suite double bedrooms feature on the private lower floor, while the cosy rear of the home features a separate large terrace, overlooking the treeline of the Water of Leith walkway, offering a private and peaceful space to relax.
Buyers also benefit from all the perks of living at The Crescent; a central location, secure parking with EV charging provision, an 18-acre maintained garden and additional security systems.
Phillip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “Those on the hunt for their next move have been looking for the following key priorities: plenty of modern living space, a private outdoor space, and a home office, all of which are included in this home.
“Another thing which creates a true feature here is the vast greenery of the estate and the spectacular views. The Crescent is blessed by its location, embracing the original Playfair building and offering views across the 18 acre estate, the Pentlands and beyond.
“A duplex showhome and virtual guided tours service are available for buyers to see this multi-level design for themselves and secure this one of a kind home within the capital.
“The final phase, The East Wing, is home to the final Duplexes at The Crescent, including plot 54, which is available for £1,480,000 and can be viewed daily by appointment alongside the showhomes.”
For more information or to arrange an appointment, please visit:
Drylaw Telford Community Council meets tomorrow evening following the summer recess.
As well as the usual agenda items, topical issues include the state of Drylaw Shopping Centre, an update on Drylaw House and Easter Drylaw Park issues.
The meeting will be held on Zoom and starts at 7pm.
For details on how you can participate please email DTCC secretary Pam Higgins, pamhigginsdtcc@gmail.com
ReDrawing Edinburgh is a community-led outreach project designed to mark the centennial commemoration of the 1920 Edinburgh Boundaries Extension and Tramways Act.
It is coordinated by a community steering group comprising representatives from each of the boundary extension areas, with support from Council Archive, Library, and Museum services.
The city boundaries were extended in November 1920 to incorporate the Burgh of Leith in the north and the Midlothian parishes of Cramond, Corstorphine, Colinton, and Liberton to the west and south of the city. The expansion meant the city grew from 17 square miles to 53 square miles and increased its population from 320,000 to 425,000.
The ‘amalgamation’, as it was referred to at the time, was welcomed by some but opposed by others – in particular Leith Town Council who fought to retain its independence. The centenary commemoration provides an opportunity for everyone to understand how the city has grown and for the communities to reaffirm their own identities and heritage.
A series of short films created as part of Redrawing Edinburgh, were produced in a partnership between local heritage and community groups and Council Archive, Library, and Museums services. These presentations explore what happened in 1920 and celebrate the identities and histories of these communities.
It is the city centre of Edinburgh that often receives the most attention, however this project focuses on the communities that joined in 1920.
Join us on the 3-18 September for Cinescapes: ReDrawing Edinburgh, a series of five pop-up outdoor screenings of a new 15-minute film.
This film has been created from archive footage showing the 5 areas which were amalgamated with Edinburgh in 1920 through the Edinburgh Boundaries Extension and Tramways Act. ReDrawing Edinburgh celebrates the strong independent identities of the areas of Cramond, Colinton, Corstorphine, Liberton, and Leith and how they have retained them throughout the past century.
This isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about identity. We’re celebrating the individual spirits that make up Edinburgh by screening the projections in the places that they are from.
Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday, 24 August:
Good afternoon. The CMO and I will take questions shortly.
However, I’ll give an overview first of where we are with Covid, starting with today’s statistics.
4,323 positive cases were reported yesterday – that’s 14.5% of all tests carried out.
364 people are in hospital – 8 more than yesterday.
And 43 people are in intensive care, which is a rise of 2 from yesterday.
Sadly, a further 10 deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, which means that the total number of deaths registered, under our daily definition, is now 8,080.
As always, my condolences go to everyone who has lost someone as a result of the virus.
As of this morning, 4,085,552 people have received a first dose of the vaccine.
And 3,587,145 people have received a second dose.
Around 80% of over 18 year olds have now had both doses of the vaccine. That includes 95% of over 40s – which is a genuinely remarkable uptake.
82% of 30 to 39 year olds have had a first dose, and 68% have had both doses. For 18 to 29 years, 74% have had first doses and 41% have had second doses.
16 & 17 year olds started being offered vaccine a couple of weeks ago and 40% have now had their first jag.
So uptake figures are good. But there are still eligible people out there who are not yet vaccinated and that poses a risk – to you if you are one of them and to all of us, because it means our overall level of population immunity is not as high as it could be.
So if you are 16 or over and haven’t yet done so, please get vaccinated now. You just need to turn up at a drop-in centre – you can find out where your nearest centre is by visiting the NHS Inform site, or by checking the social media pages of your local health board.
I have two further issues I want to cover today.
In a moment, I will discuss the overall course of the pandemic – including the rise in cases that we have seen during the last week.
But before that, I want to confirm an announcement made in the last half hour or so.
The Scottish Government has always been committed to the establishment of a statutory public inquiry into the handling of the pandemic.
I can confirm that, today, we have started the process of getting the inquiry up and running. It will be established by the end of this year as promised and will take a persons-centered, human rights based approach.
We have just published draft aims and principles for the inquiry which, following consultation between now and the end of September, with interested parties, including bereaved families, are intended to become the formal Terms of Reference.
A copy of the draft and details of how to contribute views can be found on the Scottish Government website.
The Lord Advocate has also begun discussions with the Lord President about appointing a judge to lead the inquiry. It is fully our intention that this will be a judge-led inquiry.
The inquiry will look at all matters related to the handling of the pandemic that were within our devolved competence. This will include, of course, the situation in care homes.
However, we will also liaise closely with the UK Government – and with other devolved governments – on the likely terms of a UK wide inquiry. Where possible it will be important to avoid duplication and overlap to reduce the burden on those giving evidence.
However, the need for co-operation with other governments is not a reason to delay the establishment of our own inquiry.
I believe that a full public inquiry has a very important role to play, both in scrutinising the decisions we took – and indeed continue to take – in the course of the pandemic, and also in identifying and learning lessons for the future.
I therefore believe that it is appropriate to establish that inquiry as soon as possible. The process that we have begun today is an important step towards that.
The second point I want to address is the sharp rise in cases that we have seen in the last few days.
New cases in Scotland have more than doubled during the last week. This is one of the sharpest rises we have seen during the pandemic.
As a result, new cases are now slightly higher than the exceptional levels we saw in early July. In fact today’s daily figure is the largest we have ever recorded. Though it is worth remembering that we do more testing now than in the early stages of the pandemic.
Now, we always knew that cases were likely to rise as restrictions eased – so to some extent what we are seeing now is not entirely unexpected.
However, the scale of the increase is still a cause of real concern – although context is still important.
We know that vaccination is making a big difference.
Indeed that explains why so many of the new cases we are seeing just now are in younger people less likely to have had both doses of vaccine. Around half of new cases are in people under the age of 25.
We shouldn’t be complacent about that of course. Young people can fall seriously ill from Covid, including through long Covid.
And of course vaccination does not provide anyone – of any age – with 100% protection. In fact around 1/3 of new cases recently, have been in people who had been fully vaccinated.
However, vaccination does make us somewhat less likely to get Covid and significantly less likely to fall seriously ill from Covid.
That means vaccination is still significantly weakening the link between high numbers of new cases and serious harm to people’s health.
That’s why we are able to take a different – much less restrictive – approach to dealing with the virus now than was possible at earlier stages of the pandemic.
And it is worth remembering why this is important for us to do.
Children need to go to school, businesses need to trade more normally, jobs rely on businesses and all of us need to be able to live more freely and to interact with friends, family and wider networks.
Vaccination is helping us do all of that.
But – and this is the difficult part for all of us – even with vaccination, we cannot be totally relaxed about this surge either.
The link between new cases and serious health harms has been weakened, but it has not been completely broken. That means the rise in cases in the last week may well result in more people going to hospital in the coming days, perhaps requiring intensive care treatment and more people dying.
It also means that if the surge continues or accelerates – and if we start to see evidence of a substantial increase in serious illness as a result – we cannot completely rule out having to reimpose some restrictions.
Of course, we hope not to have to do that – and if we did, we would be as limited and proportionate as possible.
However – as has been the case throughout – what happens in the next few weeks will depend to some extent on all of us.
This is yet another fragile – and potentially very pivotal – moment in our journey through the pandemic.
It is a moment to remember that – even though most restrictions have been lifted – the virus is still circulating. And the Delta variant is very transmissible.
So we need to continue to take care and think about how, in our own behaviours, we can limit the ability of the virus to spread.
Indeed, in some ways, the basic precautions we can all take have become more important – not less – as life has returned so much more to normal.
So I am asking everyone today to do the following – for the sake of ourselves and each other:
First, if you are eligible and haven’t yet done so, please get vaccinated. This remains the single most important thing we can all do to keep each other safe.
The reverse of that is equally true – not getting vaccinated is putting yourself and others at greater risk.
Second, please test yourself regularly – that way, if you have the virus but don’t have symptoms, you have a chance of picking that up before going to work or out socialising and inadvertently passing it to others.
Free lateral flow tests are available by post through the NHS inform website, or for collection from test sites and local pharmacies.
If you test positive through one of these lateral flow devices – or if you have symptoms of the virus – make sure that you self-isolate, and book a PCR test.
Third, stick to the rules still in place.
For example wear face coverings in shops and public transport – this is a reasonably simple and straightforward way in which we can protect each other in indoor settings.
And lastly, be mindful of the basic steps we can take to reduce risk. Indeed, make this a moment when we all remind ourselves to keep doing these things.
Wash your hands and surfaces as regularly as possible.
Even though it’s not the law any more, keep a safe distance from people in other households if you can.
Continue to minimise physical contact where possible – like handshaking, for example.
Avoid crowded indoor places.
And meet outdoors as much as possible, especially for as long as we have reasonable weather. If you are indoors, open windows – the better ventilated a room is, the safer it is.
It is vital at this juncture that we remember to do all of these things. As we head into autumn and winter, these basic steps might also help us limit spread of flu and other viruses too.
In the coming days, we will also be liaising with businesses to encourage compliance with basic mitigations too. In particular, I am today reminding businesses to continue to support home working for now where possible.
We have come a long way and we shouldn’t lose sight of that. In so many ways, things are better.
But like other countries in this global pandemic, we face a challenging period ahead again.
Let’s come together again to get through it.
Let’s keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
And let’s maintain the progress that we’ve all worked so hard for.
An ambitious new research project, Spectrum 10K, launches today and will recruit 10,000 autistic individuals, as well as their relatives, living in the UK.
There is an urgent need to better understand the wellbeing of autistic individuals. Spectrum 10K hopes to answer questions such as why some autistic people have epilepsy or poor mental health outcomes and others do not
Simon Baron-Cohen
Spectrum 10K is led by researchers at the world-leading Autism Research Centre (ARC), the University of Cambridge, together with the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and will study how biological and environmental factors impact on the wellbeing of autistic individuals.
In the UK, there are approximately 700,000 autistic individuals. The level of support needed by autistic individuals varies considerably. Many autistic people have additional physical health conditions such as epilepsy, or mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.
It is unclear what gives rise to the diversity within the autism spectrum or why some autistic people have better outcomes than others. The project aims to answer this question and to identify what support works best for each individual.
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, leading Spectrum 10K and Director of the ARC, explained: “There is an urgent need to better understand the wellbeing of autistic individuals. Spectrum 10K hopes to answer questions such as why some autistic people have epilepsy or poor mental health outcomes and others do not.”
Individuals of all ages, genders, ethnicities and intellectual capacities will take part in Spectrum 10K. Eligible participants join by completing an online questionnaire and providing a DNA saliva sample by post.
Autistic participants involved in Spectrum 10K can also invite their biological relatives (autistic or otherwise) to participate.
Information collected from the questionnaire and DNA saliva sample, and information from health records will be used to increase knowledge and understanding of wellbeing in autism.
Dr James Cusack, CEO of the autism research charity Autistica and an autistic person, said: “We are delighted to support Spectrum 10K. This project enables autistic people to participate in and shape autism research to build a future where support is tailored to every individual’s needs.”
The Spectrum 10K team views autism as an example of neurodiversity and is opposed to eugenics or looking for a cure for preventing or eradicating autism itself. Instead, their research aims to identify types of support and treatment which alleviate unwanted symptoms and co-occurring conditions that cause autistic people distress.
The Spectrum 10K team collaborates with an Advisory Panel consisting of autistic individuals, parents of autistic children, clinicians, and autism charity representatives to ensure Spectrum 10K is designed in a way that best serves the autistic community.
27 specialist NHS sites around the UK are also helping with recruitment for Spectrum 10K.
Dr Venkat Reddy, Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician in the Community Child Health Services at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, said: “There is a need to conduct further research into autism and co-occurring conditions to enable researchers and clinicians to build a better understanding of autism.
“I would encourage autistic individuals and their families to consider taking part in Spectrum 10K.”
Dr Anna and Alastair Gadney, parents of a teenager with autism and learning difficulties: “We have been exploring, over many years, how to implement the best support for our son.
“We wholeheartedly endorse Spectrum 10K and hope our involvement can help increase understanding of autism and in-turn support many families out there.”
Chris Packham, naturalist and TV presenter who is also autistic, said: “I’m honoured to be an ambassador of Spectrum 10K because I believe in the value of science to inform the support services that autistic kids and adults will need.”
Paddy McGuinness, actor, comedian, television presenter, and father of three autistic children, said: “As a parent of three autistic children, I am really excited to support Spectrum 10K.
“This research is important to help us understand what makes every autistic person different, and how best to support them.”
Recruitment for Spectrum 10K is now open. Autistic children under the age of 16 must be registered by their parent or legal guardian. Autistic adults who lack the capacity to consent by themselves must be registered by a carer/or family member.
– Findings based on expert analysis and public consultation events.
– Launch of new body to monitor progress on “urgent and combined actions.”
The Scottish Government, councils and landowners need to take “urgent and combined actions” to tackle the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis, according to a new report.
The report, published by the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA), sets out eight recommendations to tackle the challenges facing biodiversity, food production, renewable energy, health and well-being.
The co-ordinated approach calls for the rapid development of new strategies and plans alongside reforms to existing regulations and continued investment in innovative businesses, public services and infrastructure.
If implemented, new Healthy Food, Agroecology and Sustainable Place strategies would be combined with strengthened requirements under the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement as well as Climate Impact Certificates detailing land use impacts.
The New Vision for Land Use in Scotland report also calls for continued investment in transport, renewable energy and communications infrastructure across Scotland along with seed funding for innovative new businesses.
The integrated approach would be underpinned by support for secondary and tertiary education in creating a climate conscious, motivated and skilled workforce.
In developing the recommendations, SEDA hosted events with nearly 50 of the best-informed speakers on all aspects of rural land use. The experts participated in 6 Conversations with designers, architects, businesses, campaigners and the general public. In all, over 1,250 people took part in the Conversations.
Experts believe that little additional government expenditure is required to deliver such a framework, which would encourage and allow the private and third sectors to invest.
However, delivering the recommendations requires significant and rapid changes in processes and greater integration of existing and new policies and procedures.
Gail Halvorsen, Event Organiser for the SEDA 6 Conversations, said:“I felt there was a need for a broad-ranging event on the future of Scotland’s land use in view of the climate emergency and COP26.
“The recommendations that have come from this well-attended series of conversations will cause the greatest change in Scottish land use since the agrarian revolution.
“Crucially, each part of the recommended eight-point programme is dependent on the others to deliver a sustained improvement in climate change mitigation, biodiversity enhancement, health & wellbeing, and economic activity across Scotland.”
An immediate result of the report’s findings will be the launch of SEDA Land, a new forum for SEDA members and experts in land use to continue the discussion, seek to influence land use change and monitor progress made by the Scottish Government, local authorities, land owners and businesses in implementing the changes needed.
Catherine Cosgrove, Chair of SEDA, commented:“Our Land Conversations series provided a platform for ideas and experiences to be discussed. This report provides a flavour of the rich debate sparked during these events and eight recommendations we believe the Scottish Government needs to implement rapidly.
“We hope this will be the start of a wider public debate that could revitalise our relationship with the land.”
Deborah Roberts, Deputy Chief Executive at the James Hutton Institute, added:“The need for land use reform has captured people’s imaginations and we particularly welcome the interdisciplinary and science-led approach in this report’s findings.
“As this report makes clear, a sustainable future for Scotland’s land can only be built on a cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary basis, and through the use of principles which take into account people’s needs, sense of community, place and tradition – all of which vary from one region to the next.”
Professor Davy McCracken, Head of Integrated Land Management at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and one of the authors of the report, said:“It is clear that a ‘single policy, single outcome’ approach does not address the needs of rural areas. What is needed urgently is cross-sector policies which are integrated and can deliver across a broad set of issues.
“The Deputy First Minister’s additional role as Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery – and especially the responsibility for the coordination of delivery and outcomes across portfolios – will be fundamental to achieving this.”
LOVE Gorgie Farm and People Know How will operate community facilities
S1 Developments has submitted a planning application for an ‘exciting new student residential development’ at the former Tynecastle High School site.
The developers say ‘this high-quality student development will regenerate a site that has lain vacant for over a decade and fallen into a state of disrepair. The careful restoration of the original Category B-listed school building, designed by John Alexander Carfrae, forms an integral part of the proposals. The development will far exceed amenity standards for similar student developments and has sustainability at its heart.’
Charities LOVE Gorgie Farm and People Know How have also been revealed as preferred operators for community facilities on the site should planning permission be granted.
The highly popular urban farm will operate an extensive community garden while People Know How, which already works with Tynecastle High School, will operate a community facility within the building.
The original school hall will be repurposed as a central amenity hub, sitting within a collegiate-style courtyard space and providing high quality shared facilities for student residents. The landscaping proposals increase green space across the site by more than 40 per cent, helping to increase biodiversity within the local area.
The development has been designed to be highly sustainable with zero parking, 100 per cent cycle parking, the employment of low carbon technologies and no use of fossil fuels.
Council guidance points to the benefits of purpose-built student accommodation in freeing up traditional housing stock for families with children and it has been estimated that a development such as this could release up to 180 properties back into the housing market. Local businesses will also benefit through increased spending from student residents.
People Know How will operate a community facility, with the option for other local community groups to use space. The charity supports children, young people and their families in Edinburgh transition from primary to high school; helps individuals access the digital world and assists communities to shape their areas through community consultation and empowerment.
A large number of students volunteer to work with the charity and this enables a positive relationship with students in the building to be established. Not only does this support the charity in its work, but also benefits the volunteers and engages them in the local area.
LOVE Gorgie Farm will seek to engage children and young people in its environmental programmes through a community garden, on the western edge of the site, which will include planting beds, a shelter, storage space and greenhouses. The farm’s Earth School project, for example will stimulate interest in nature, encouraging new generations in creating a brighter and eco-friendly future.
Dan Teague, Director at S1 Developments, said:“We’re delighted to be submitting a planning application for this exciting development, and to also highlight our involvement with two charities who do such valuable work in local communities.
“As S1 Developments we develop sites to suit the location and have delivered hundreds of homes, including affordable homes across the city. Following our careful assessment of this site, we feel that student development is the most appropriate use given the constraints.
“This will not only secure the redevelopment of the Old Tynecastle High School, and provide a boost to the local economy, but also allows us to develop the site in manner which is compatible with neighbouring uses.
“The original school building has fallen into a sorry state since it ceased being a school over a decade ago. Whilst the redevelopment is challenging, we are hopeful that the proposed use brings with it an opportunity to save and renovate the original school building and continue its educational use, benefitting the local community.”
Julie O’Donnell, Head of LOVE Gorgie Farm, said:“We’re very exciting about the prospect of operating the community garden should the scheme receive consent.
“With the environment and climate change such topical issues the garden will complement superbly what we do at the farm in the terms of educating our children and young people on nature and the delivery of an eco-friendly future.”
Glenn Liddall, Chief Executive of People Know How, commented:“It is great to be offered this facility, allowing us to increase our activity with the local community. While we will operate it, we are also keen that other groups and organisations be able to make use of it.
“As a large number of students routinely work with us by way of volunteering, internships and placements, this is a win-win for us. It not only allows us to establish a positive relationship with students in the building who can support us in our work but benefits and engages them in the local area.”
