Tag: city council

Applications open for Edinburgh’s Community Grants Fund

The City of Edinburgh Council is now accepting applications for its Community Grants Fund (CGF), offering grants of up to £5,000 to support community work in neighbourhoods across Edinburgh.

The Community Grants Fund (CGF) is a small grants scheme designed to empower local communities and support grassroots initiatives. Grants of up to £5,000 are available to constituted groups for community-based activities, with 13 local funds corresponding to different areas of the city.

If you are part of a community group with a project in mind, you may be eligible to apply to your local fund.

The CGF has previously supported a variety of important projects, including the Grassmarket Community Cinema Project, bespoke driven bikes for North Edinburgh Dementia Care and a a community orchard group at Lauriston Farm  – and your project could be next!

Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Community-driven projects have the power to transform neighbourhoods and improve lives. Our communities are the lifeblood of our city, and we are committed to ensuring they have the resources they need to turn their ideas into reality.

“The Community Grant Fund offers a valuable opportunity to make a meaningful impact. I’m excited to see the incredible projects that will emerge from this round of applications.”

The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday, 30th April 2025.

All applications will be reviewed in June, and successful applicants will be notified soon after.

Quotes from past participants:

North Edinburgh Dementia Care (Craigentinny Duddingston)

Project: To trial a project getting older isolated people with a diagnosis of dementia out and about in the community using bespoke driven bikes.

Quote: “The grant has enabled us to work in partnership with Joy Rides to deliver an outdoor bike program to our service users, who have a diagnosis of dementia.
Service users enjoyed a ride on a trishaw which is a customised electric bike with a driver cycling from behind.

“Promoting their health & wellbeing and reducing isolation being outdoors in the fresh air, making them visible in their own community.

“The project enabled people who were no longer able to cycle independently to feel the wind in their hair and the exhilaration of the travelling on a bike through beautiful areas, in a safe, secure and supported environment.” (quote from participant)

Grassmarket Community Project (City Centre)

Project: Funding to hire a cinema director and two projectionists part-time to continue their valuable work curating and delivering a weekly film programme for the Community Picture House.

Quotes: “In summary, the Grassmarket Community Picture House played a pivotal role in enhancing the lives of its attendees by providing social interaction, cultural enrichment, and access to support services. This initiative promoted positive social engagement, reduced isolation, and empowered individuals to build connections and grow within a supportive community environment.” (quote from participant)

Edinburgh Agroecology- Lauriston Farm (Almond)

Project: to develop a community orchard group

Quote: “The Orchard project is beneficial to the community on many levels. Not only is it an investment in future fruit production, it is also where the wider community, especially children, can learn so much about natural food sources and the splendid variety of fruits.

‘For the group directly involved, the orchard is a joyful space for creativity and learning about simple, natural and organic technologies. The collaboration and commitment of stalwart Orchard Group Members combined with dedication of the directors of Lauriston Farm is second to none.” (quote from participant)

Council commits over £30 million to tackle Edinburgh’s broken roads

Councillors have agreed to take forward an ‘ambitious suite’ of infrastructure and road safety works in the coming year, worth over £30m.

The Roads and Infrastructure Investment – Capital Delivery Priorities for 2025/26 spreads the capital budget of £25.686m across six different work streams.

Carriageways and footways will receive £18.161m and focus on repairing roads and pavements. Street lighting and traffic signals have £1.220m, which will be used to maintain and improve this network.

Road structures take £1.545m and focusses on road bridges, foot bridges, underpasses, tunnels and gantries. Road operations will get £2.460m and encompasses drainage repairs, bus stop maintenance and surface enhancement. Other asset management and miscellaneous spending amounts to £2.3m.

The additional £12.5m of funding agreed in February’s budget has been integrated into the programme to improve paths, pavements and road conditions.

An extra £12.5m of funding was also agreed last year, with a record 460,000m2 of carriageways and 52,000m2 of footways receiving treatment in that period. The Council’s Road Condition Indicator (RCI), which signifies the percentage of roads that should be considered for investment, also saw a significant improvement in 2024/25.

The council will look to build on these results in the coming year by undertaking a combination of carriageway strengthening, carriageway resurfacing, carriageway surface treatment, footway asphalt, footway flags and footway slurry sealing.

The report also outlines Edinburgh’s Street Lighting Programme and looks further ahead to their Setted Street Priorities in the next six financial years with Frederick Street, Victoria Street and the Shore all featuring for refurbishment.

Edinburgh’s Road Safety Delivery Plan 2025/26 allocates over £6m across the service. As part of this, the Road Safety team will address concerns around the Dalmahoy Junction and prioritise infrastructure improvements for safe school travel, including additional pedestrian crossings.

There will also be provision for Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP), speed reduction measures and new 30mph and 20mph speed limit reductions over this and the forthcoming year. A full breakdown can be found in Appendix 2 of the report. Road safety progress will be reported to Committee in October, following elected member workshops to drive forward existing priority projects.

These allocations are driven by the council’s main priorities in the year ahead to promote road safety, study road accidents, review our vacant school crossing sites, take preventative measures and offer information, advice and practical training to road users.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m really pleased that these two ambitious and wide-reaching reports have been agreed.

“Our residents have made it abundantly clear that they want and expect continued investment in our roads network. Road safety also goes hand in hand with road condition and investment, with roads that are better maintained equalling safer roads for our children and young people. This is what I’m committed to delivering.

“From carriageway strengthening in Corstorphine and surface treatment in Seafield, to street lighting in Leith and road safety education in Ratho, we’re focussed on fulfilling our commitments and getting to work for the people of Edinburgh.”

A list of definitions for treatment specifications mentioned above in the Roads and Infrastructure Investment – Capital Delivery Priorities for 2025/26 report are below:

Carriageway Strengthening: A substantial treatment with a minimum depth of 100mm. This includes removal of the surfacing and base course of the carriageway. Deeper excavations may be required depending on existing condition. Deeper excavations are required a bus stops.

Carriageway Resurfacing: This treatment removes the surface course only. The depth of treatment is generally 40-50mm.

Carriageway Surface Treatment: A preventative maintenance treatment. A thin treatment that is designed to slow deterioration of the carriageway. It is used primarily on carriageways that are starting to deteriorate. CEC uses two surface treatments: Surface Dressing and Micro Asphalt.

Footway Asphalt: Break out of the existing asphalt footway. Depth will be dependent on existing condition. Kerbs are generally lifted and re-set as part of this treatment.

Footway Flags: Break out of the existing footway with flags (slabs) being installed. Generally, pre-cast concrete flags are used, however, the following material is specified in the World Heritage Site: Old Town: Caithness Stone Flags New Town: Yorkstone Flags

Footway Surface Treatment: A preventative maintenance treatment. A thin treatment that is designed to slow deterioration of the footway.

Roads and Infrastructure Investment Capital Delivery Priorities for 202526Download

New park opens within former Granton gasholder

A new public park officially opened in Edinburgh today as part of the £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront to become a new environmentally friendly coastal town. The Gasholder 1 Park sits within the completely restored gasholder with views over the Firth of Forth.

Council Leader Jane Meagher was joined by Minister for Employment and Investment Tom Arthur, representatives from the main contractor McLaughlin & Harvey, as well as volunteers from Granton Hub and members of Pianodrome, Scran Academy and Craigyroyston Youth Football Club to mark the opening of the park ahead of a family fun day and ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday 5 April.

A club member of the Craigroyston Youth Community Football Club will join the Council Leader to cut the ribbon and officially declare the park open for residents and visitors to enjoy for decades to come.

The entrance of the park is marked with large Hollywood style lettering making it more visible for local people and others visiting to enjoy its open green space and play equipment. It has six different zones including three play areas with a wide range of play equipment.

There is plenty of outdoor space to explore and an inner ring walk going round the outer edges of the frame with a range of places to sit and relax. An outdoor exhibition has also been created which showcases the history of Granton gasworks as well as the restoration process.  

The 1.2 hectare park, set within the restored iconic gasholder frame, was created using £1.2 million from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme. 

This work followed refurbishment of the frame as well as removal of the historic bell using funding from the UK Government.  The restored and repainted gasholder frame is also now a beacon of light in north Edinburgh as it is lit up permanently after dark.

 A new sculpture now also takes pride of place at the centre of the park, commissioned by the Council last year following input from the local community. Svetland Kondakova Muir designed the piece to portray one of the Firth of Forth’s most special visitors – the humpback whale – the recently completed artwork was put in place last week.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “The Gasholder 1 Park opening is a huge milestone reached for the £1.3bn Granton Waterfront project. It is really inspiring to look out over this important piece of coastal land for our Capital city and see these much needed homes and other facilities literally springing up out of the ground.

 “The new park is a fantastic addition for local communities and the hundreds of new tenants including families who have recently moved into the homes we have built for social and mid-market rent in the area.

“Many of these are on land immediately surrounding the new park and I’m delighted to say that many more homes are being planned or under construction which will be ready for hundreds of new tenants in the next few years.

 “The historic gasholder gives the new park a unique look and feel and it will also be seen for miles around as the restored frame is lit up after dark.

 “This exciting opening follows the restoration of the former Granton Station building and the new public square also created to provide a sense of place for the local community which opened to great fanfare in March 2023. 

“I’m delighted to cut the ribbon on Saturday to open this exciting new space for the local community as well as the thousands of other visitors I’m sure it will attract from Edinburgh and beyond in the years to come.”

 Investment Minister Tom Arthur said: “We have contributed £1.2 million towards transformation of Granton’s Gasholder from a derelict site to a vibrant and accessible space for people to enjoy. 

“This is part of wider efforts to regenerate the Granton area, including a recent project supported by the Scottish Government to transform derelict industrial units at Granton Waterfront into communal spaces. 

“To help communities thrive, we are providing £62.15 million towards regeneration in 2025-26. This will support projects which revitalise green spaces, town centres and derelict sites to benefit people across Scotland.”

UK Government Minister for Local Growth, Alex Norris, said:  “Having visited Granton earlier in the year, it is wonderful to see the new Gasholder 1 Park will be opening this week. This green space will really bring the community together, from young families to elderly residents and visitors to the City.  

 “The refurbishment of the derelict gas holder structure has provided a real beacon of light to Edinburgh, retaining its unique history and character, while wider transformation work is underway to Granton Waterfront.

“This is exactly the kind of collaboration and locally led growth we want to see all across Scotland and the UK in our mission to boost growth and renewal as part of our Plan for Change.”

Graham Brown, Senior Contracts Manager at McLaughlin & Harvey, said: “Gasholder 1 Park was a unique restoration project to deliver for the City of Edinburgh Council.

“In deconstructing the old bell, refurbishing the listed steel structure, and repainting the frame, we have solved complex engineering challenges.

“The ribbon cutting ceremony is a brilliant opportunity for McLaughlin & Harvey to celebrate the vast civil engineering experience of our team as well as the success achieved in our collaboration with our client and supply chain partners.”

The family fun day will include

  • Community singalong with Pianodrome at 11am
  • Ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11.15am with Council Leader Jane Meagher
  • Family arts and craft activities
  • Penalty shoot-outs with Craigroyston Community Youth Football Club
  • Free ice cream
  • Free face painting
  • Exhibition stalls

Edinburgh joins Core Cities UK

Edinburgh has become the 12th member of partnership-led organisation with a 30 year track record of implementing policy change across the UK.

Edinburgh has joined Core Cities UK, becoming the organisation’s 12th member city, its third national capital, and expanding the UK-wide reach of the group as it prepares to celebrate its 30th birthday later this year.

Edinburgh will join Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield to become a member of an organisation that has a 30 year track record of implementing policy change across the UK.

Edinburgh is one of the most economically successful places in the country but, like other Core Cities, has areas of the city where overall health, earning potential and life expectancy fall well below national averages.

The Scottish capital will play a key role in the group’s thinking around inclusive economic growth and other members hope to learn from its development of a tourism levy, which will come into effect in Edinburgh next Summer.

Cllr Jane Meagher, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve joined Core Cities UK and look forward to sharing our knowledge, ideas and experiences with other member cities.

“Edinburgh continues to perform well as a place to live, work, visit and invest in, but we still face many of the same urban challenges as our partners.

“Growing populations are creating ever increasing demand for homes, public services and infrastructure, while many of our residents are struggling with the cost of living – meaning poverty, homelessness and economic inactivity remain the biggest challenges of our time.

“From my early discussions with the Chair and other member cities, it’s been clear how much we have in common – both in terms of these challenges, but also our priorities. I have no doubt that this collaboration will help us to solve our collective problems while growing more sustainably for the benefit of all of our residents.”

Cllr James Lewis, Chair of Core Cities UK and Leader of Leeds City Council, added: “Edinburgh joining us is an historic moment for Core Cities and solidifies our position as the authoritative voice of urban Britain.

“We have always argued that cities have certain things in common, no matter which nation – either within the UK or abroad – they are situated in and we look forward to getting Edinburgh’s unique perspective on our policy discussions.”

Core Cities’ mission is to unlock the full potential of our great city regions to create a stronger, fairer economy and society. With the addition of Edinburgh, Core Cities will generate more than 25 per cent of the economy and will be home to more than 22 million people.

Core Cities UK is a leading voice in policy around devolution and decentralisation and its reports with organisations including OECD and RSA are used as benchmarks within the sector. It also has strong private sector relationships with a variety of companies including Landsec and Lloyds Banking Group and works closely with the English Combined Authority Mayors as well as local Government in London.

Founded by a number of English councils in 1995, it is headquartered in Manchester and will celebrate its 30th anniversary this summer.

Covid Memorial art trail in Wardie Bay

Work is nearing completion on the creation of a Covid memorial art trail in the Wardie Bay area, designed to honour the experiences and resilience of the local community during the pandemic.

The art trail along McKelvie Parade is intended to arouse curiosity and invite those using the space ‘to pause and be present’.

The project, funded entirely by the Scottish Government and Greenspace Scotland through the Remembering Together initiative, is part of a national effort to reflect the diverse impacts of Covid across Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

Across Scotland, local communities have engaged with commissioned artists and creative organisations to develop unique memorials that capture the collective and individual experiences of the pandemic.

For Edinburgh, Greenspace Scotland has been working in collaboration with artist Skye Loneragan, supported by Artlink and the City of Edinburgh Council. The project has explored experiences of the pandemic, with the goal of highlighting the challenges faced by disabled people, while also celebrating their resilience and potential.

Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker, said: “Creating this Covid memorial pathway in Wardie Bay is an important step in acknowledging the shared experiences and challenges faced by our communities during the pandemic.

“This project provides a meaningful space for reflection for us all, and particularly for individuals with learning disabilities and their carers, who were disproportionately affected.

“Through collaboration with local artists and community groups, we are ensuring that these voices are not only heard but commemorated. This pathway will stand as a testament to the resilience, compassion, and strength shown by all during those difficult times.”

During Phase 1 of the project Skye, supported by artist Stewart Ennis collaborated with participants from the Maple Project and Lung Ha Theatre and reached out to the wider community through public interventions on the Granton Western Breakwater (Wardie Jetty).

Participants were invited to share their memories, thoughts, and feelings about the pandemic and to develop ideas around how we process loss and create spaces for people to come together and reflect.

The creative process focused on making sure the final art trail design was relevant, inclusive, and reflective of the varied experiences of the community. Concepts that emerged during the engagement phase include themes such as “getting away from it all but having somewhere to come back to,” “the tidal flow of the pandemic,” and “making hard things soft and rough things smooth.”

The art trail at McKelvie Parade is a combination of several interventions along the route that arouse curiosity and invite those using the space to pause and be present.

Art pieces have been created to reflect the tidal flow of the pandemic and include Leith West breakwater stones inscribed with words people told artists they would gift themselves if there were another pandemic (cash, giggles, music).

The trail is book-ended by halved stone boulders placed apart and includes a smoothed patch of stone seawall with the invitation ‘Lean on me’, poetry at the entrance to the Bay, a Someone Missing bench co-created with a wheelchair user who described feeling held if there were grooves in the pavement, and a Something Missing Half with 2m distanced Stone seed.

The trail includes twin milestone plaques that describe Time as a Feeling, and Distance as a relationship to friends and family.

Lead artist Skye Loneragan said: “Processing loss is so important. Covid often kept us (and still keeps many of us), at a distance with those we loved and might have been losing, or parts of ourselves we lost, or something and somewhere we love and might be unable to reach.

“This project deliberately seeks to work with people whose experiences are often excluded and I am always interested in how we can nurture our collective sanity, together, our interconnected well-being, through the huge diversity of life experiences that make up what is.”

Construction is expected to be completed today – Friday 4 April.

New temporary library proposed at Davidson’s Mains Primary School

Modular building will provide essential services for local community until longer-term solution agreed

A new temporary library is being proposed at Davidson’s Mains Primary School, providing Blackhall Library’s key services while plans are developed for a long-term replacement for the previous building at Hillhouse Road.

Blackhall Library has been closed since September 2023, following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RACC).

Options to replace the RAAC in the longer term are complex due to the extent of work required, the potential costs and the wider condition of the building. 

The Council’s latest budget, agreed last month, includes a planned £15m to sustainably replace Blackhall Library.

A 12-week community engagement exercise will open after the Easter break to consider options (including refurbishing the existing building, rebuilding it or relocating to another site) to help find the preferred longer-term solution.

It is estimated it could take three to four years to deliver the final solution.

A mobile library service has been provided since Blackhall Library’s closure, but the limited space means it isn’t possible to deliver the full range of library services that residents expect.

The new temporary building is planned to open in the autumn, with construction works beginning in the summer break to avoid disruption to the school.

It will include provision for both children’s and adult libraries alongside dedicated areas for teens, studying and a multi-purpose meeting space. The building will be fenced off from the rest of the school site with segregated access. Opening hours are still to be determined, but will be different from school hours to prevent congestion at the start and end of the school day.

A number of improvements are also proposed at Davidson’s Mains Primary School as part of the scheme. These include improving the path outside the existing school gate and library site entrance to address concerns around congestion, cutting back hedges blocking the pavement opposite the school, and improving the junction crossing point either side of school entrances with a new continuous footway to make this safer for pedestrians. Parking restrictions immediately outside the school boundary will also be strengthened.

Further improvements to the school and wider area are being considered and a working group involving the project team, the school management team and parent council representatives has been established for the duration of the project.

Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “We know how important it is that people across Blackhall and Davidson’s Mains have access to quality local services in places that are convenient and accessible for them.

“That’s why we’re proposing a temporary library at Davidson’s Mains Primary School until a long term solution can be delivered. At the same time, we’re improving access around the school site to create a safer environment for everyone.

“We want to make sure the school and local community are involved in how the service is delivered and the types of activities that will take place at the replacement library. The school will be able to make use of the facility, and we hope that the closer relationship with the school will bring wider benefits for learning for all.

“We also want to ensure that the longer-term solution delivers the best possible outcome for everyone who uses these services, and we look forward to hearing from residents and people across the local community when we launch our consultation on the full replacement for Blackhall Library in the spring.”

The Council is submitting a Planning Application for the temporary facility. The working group, with the school and Parent Council representatives, will continue throughout the process of delivering the temporary library facility and associated improvements.

Wider community engagement and consultation on the longer-term solution for the library will commence after the Easter break, with details to be published in due course.

Applications now open for the Grow Your Own grant scheme

Community groups in Edinburgh are being invited to apply for funding from a £50,000 pilot scheme by the City of Edinburgh Council to establish new food growing projects.

The “Grow Your Own” community grant initiative will welcome applications from projects aimed at establishing new community growing projects. Applications for funding are invited to help the creation of new growing spaces, supporting the establishment of growing groups, and promoting education around urban food production.

Grants of up to £5,000 will be awarded to constituted voluntary and community groups across the city, with projects running for up to 12 months.

The £50,000 funding has been allocated from the Flood Prevention/Biodiversity (including food growing) budget, which was approved in the Council’s budget on 22 February 2025. This fund aims to provide smaller community groups with essential support to establish community growing initiatives.

Funding can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • Purchasing seeds, plants, and tools
  • Equipment for community garden cooking areas
  • Education and training activities
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Staff time directly related to establishing the growing area

Culture and Communities Convener Val Walker said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Edinburgh communities to get involved in urban food growing.

“The city already hosts over 45 allotment sites with over 1,700 council-managed plots, along with more than 70 community growing projects. Through Edinburgh’s Food Growing Strategy (2021- 2026) and Allotment Strategy (2017 – 2027) we aim to expand local food growing initiatives.

This year’s scheme will operate as a pilot program, and its impact will be assessed. If successful, and funding permitting, we could see this becoming an annual initiative.

To apply, groups must meet the Council’s Standard Conditions of Grants. Full details can be found on the City of Edinburgh website.

The application process will be administered through the City of Edinburgh Council’s Your Voice platform, designed to ensure a simple and efficient application experience.

The deadline for applications is noon on 12 May.

Work begins on new affordable homes at former Cowan’s Close depot site

Construction has begun on a new residential development in Newington which will provide 19 modern, fully wheelchair-accessible homes available for social rent.

Work commenced today (Monday 31 March), with the project expected to be completed by summer 2026.

Upon completion, the homes will provide much-needed wheelchair accommodation in a city centre location whilst incorporating innovative, energy efficient design features. A fabric first approach with high levels of insulation will ensure that the homes stay warm, reducing the level of heating needed and helping to prevent fuel poverty.

The development will also include renewable heating and energy generation with the use of Air Source Heat Pumps and Photovoltaic (solar) panels which will produce low-cost, sustainable energy and significantly reduce carbon emission from the development.

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “Edinburgh is in urgent need of new affordable and accessible homes to address the shortage of suitable accommodation options for residents who have disabilities and residents who are wheelchair users.

“I am therefore delighted that the new Cowan’s Close development in Newington is now underway to provide 19 new, modern, fully wheelchair accessible homes for social rent.”

CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said: “We are delighted to have commenced construction at Cowan’s Close.

“The project is another great example of how The City of Edinburgh Council and CCG are working collaboratively to address the demand for new, affordable homes in the city, and it will be a much welcome addition to the Newington community upon completion next year.”

Granton Whale sculpture takes pride of place in new public park

Whale scultpure

A design portraying one of the Firth of Forth’s most special visitors – the humpback whale – has been commissioned by the Council to be displayed in the new Gasholder 1 public park.

The piece of public art by Svetlana Kondakova Muir has been put in place to take centre stage in the new park which opened at the end of last year as part of the £1.3bn regeneration of the wider area.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the new piece of art at the park’s official opening on Saturday 5 April.

Last February the Council invited locally based artists and creative practitioners to develop ideas for a new artwork to be co-created with the local community.

Locals and visitors to Granton Waterfront were then given a sneak peek of six shortlisted designs for the new piece exhibited at Granton Station.

Ideas for the selected pieces were taken from community interests and themes connected to Granton and the artists provided opportunities for the local community to participate in the design process. A panel of experts then selected Svetlana Kondakova Muir’s whale as the winning design in Summer 2024.

By portraying the whale, the artist is celebrating the local natural environment. The sculpture is a galvanised steel and aluminium life-sized head of a humpback whale appearing to emerge vertically from underwater.

At four metres tall, it is an awe-inspiring size, allowing visitors to experience the full might of this incredible creature. To complement the gasholder structure, it was made in a contemporary polygonal style using simple, flat shapes with straight edges, a style that is both minimalist and striking.

Aluminium-cast artworks created by local school children and college students, including an oyster reef, barnacles and other wildlife as well as textured panels created by pupils who have complex support needs from Oaklands School, will be added to the structure in summer 2026.

Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Val Walker said: “The new park – Gasholder 1 – officially opens on Saturday 5 April and I’m really looking forward to hundreds of visitors joining us that day and being able to see this this beautiful piece of art which is a spectacular focal point.

“I’m sure it will become a huge draw for local people and those visiting the area in the future months and years ahead. I’m hoping those who haven’t already explored the new green space will have the opportunity to do so at our official opening or in their own time at some point soon.

“The gasholder has always played an important role in Granton Waterfront and it is fantastic to see it has been completely restored and is now lit up as a permanent feature after dark.”

Artist Svetlana Kondakova Muir said: “It was a great honour to be awarded the Gasholder Public Art Commission and I am excited to see the sculpture complete.

“The best part about this project has been working with the local community to come up with ideas – it was them who chose the whale – and to create elements of sea life which will be cast in aluminium and added to the sculpture.

“I feel privileged that my artwork will be housed within such a distinctive landmark in Edinburgh’s landscape.

“Most importantly, I hope that Granton Whale will highlight the importance of marine conservation and the value of our relationships with the natural world.”