As Edinburgh prepares for the gradual lifting of lockdown, Council Leaders are looking forward to a safe, sustainable reopening of the economy, and many of the city’s health and leisure venues.
From tomorrow (Monday 26 April), hospitality, non-essential retail and gyms, including Edinburgh Leisure centres, can reopen, with restrictions in place. Leaders have wished businesses and operators well as they get ready to open their doors.
Their comments follow the launch of Forever Edinburgh – The Story Never Ends, a joint campaign between the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG) and VisitScotland. This encourages people to rediscover the city, its stories and places while supporting local businesses, promoting attractions, shops, bars and restaurants as lockdown eases.
Amongst other restrictions being eased, libraries and galleries will be able to resume services, and in Edinburgh, plans are being drawn up for the phased reopening of libraries and cultural venues over the coming weeks.
Councillor Adam McVey and Councillor Cammy Day also encouraged people to continue following the rules in place, and to take care of their local parks and greenspaces this weekend.
“Council Leader Adam McVey said: “The sun is shining, there’s a good weather forecast for the weekend and we have much to be hopeful about. As we approach 26 April, when COVID restrictions on many businesses will be eased for the first time since Boxing Day, cafes, restaurants, shops and gyms across the city will be making their final preparations.
“We’re doing everything we can to support them, whether that’s our licensing officers working to provide advice and guidance or with partners through our City’s Forever Edinburgh campaign, which is inspiring people to enjoy all the Capital has to offer.
“We’re also gearing up to welcome people back to our libraries and cultural venues in the coming weeks, places I know many people have sorely missed, and we’ll soon be publishing plans to open their doors again, starting with the Central Library (above).
“Edinburgh Leisure will be reopening their leisure centres and swimming pools from Monday too, and I know a huge number of people are looking forward to getting back to their local facilities.
“We’re all excited about a sense of normality being returned, as well as the chance to socialise with friends and family in the sun. Let’s enjoy the weekend responsibly, continuing to stick to the rules and taking care of our outdoor spaces, keeping COVID cases low, preserving our beautiful green spaces and helping Edinburgh to recover safely.”
Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “Together we’ve endured an extremely difficult year, responding to changing restrictions and strict lockdowns which have been immensely challenging to our mental health and, for many, their financial situation.
“I want to take this opportunity to recognise the sacrifices and adjustments made by the many businesses across Edinburgh during this time, and to wish them well as they get ready to reopen on Monday.
“Thanks also to our residents, who have worked so hard to observe the guidance in place, helping to limit the spread of this virus – their efforts have been a crucial factor in our ability to gradually lift restrictions.
“We know what an impact the changes we’ve experienced have had on people’s quality of life, so I hope that the forthcoming reopening of libraries, cultural venues and, from next week, Edinburgh Leisure venues and gyms around the city, will provide a much-needed boost.
Councillors have agreed a plan to install temporary public toilets in busy parks and other ‘hotspot’ areas like the Meadows and Portobello on the understanding that funding is approved by Council next week.
This will help to meet increased demand over the summer months as more people enjoy the outdoors in the warmer weather as the city eases out of lockdown.
An additional £450,000 from COVID funds, if approved, will fund the project.
A list of the exact locations for the toilets is being compiled and will be publicised so people know where they are when complete. The project will ensure toilets provided also meet accessibility needs.
A plan for new and improved permanent public toilets across the Capital, following a review of existing facilities, was also approved by members of the Transport and Environment Committee, on the basis that funding can be identified.
The plan is to build new public toilets in popular parks such as Inverleith and Leith Links and in premier parks where provision already exists the toilets will be upgraded to meet modern hygiene standards.
Consultation will also be carried out with community groups in these and other areas such as Colinton, where the community may already be progressing their own projects.
The plan also includes more modern facilities being built in ‘local town centres’ as part of the development of new Council hubs.
The review found providing purpose-built toilet blocks with small cafes in local town centres would provide unnecessary additional competition to local businesses and so councillors have approved new facilities being provided in the multi-service ‘hubs’ being created as part of the ‘20 minute’ neighbourhood approach.
This will be particularly beneficial to disabled and elderly residents looking to access Council services.
Improved signage to major travel hubs, which all have public toilets, is also being considered as part of the plans.
The community toilets scheme will also continue when COVID guidance allows and communications will be improved to make sure people know where they are.
In the longer-term, payment to businesses to open their toilets for general public use will be phased out as provision across the city improves.
There are currently seven public toilets open at busy ‘hot spots’ and reopening the Council’s other permanent facilities will remain under review and they will reopen when practicable and when public health guidance allows.
Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Environment Convener, said: “As we ease out of lockdown over the next few months outdoor recreation and meetings will become even more important for people, particularly during spells of warmer weather.
“We recognise that an increased number of public toilets is going to be needed to allow residents and visitors to stay longer to enjoy our beautiful parks, beaches and other open spaces. There have been reports of people toileting in and around these areas and I really hope that providing additional temporary facilities, if funding is approved, helps to put a stop to that.”
Cllr Karen Doran, Environment Vice-Convener, said: “We’re very proud of our beautiful parks and beaches, which are particularly busy during periods of warmer weather and I’m really pleased we’ve managed to find funding which now just needs to be approved to help ease the situation with more people meeting and exercising outdoors.
“To make our stunning city even more welcoming and accessible going foward, we’ll try to find the funding we need to allow us to initially focus on improving facilities in premier parks on a permanent basis.
“We’re already planning for ‘hubs’ in our town centres as part of ’20 minute communities’ and accessible, clean modern toilets as part of these ‘hubs’ is the best solution for local provision going forward.”
What stories might Edinburgh’s picturesque streets, historic buildings and beautiful outdoor spaces tell us if they could speak?This is a question set to be answered by the City’s exciting new marketing campaign: ‘Forever Edinburgh – The Story Never Ends’.
Delivered jointly by the City of Edinburgh Council, ETAG and VisitScotland, the campaign will bring to life the Capital’s dynamic stories and the unique experiences to be had around every corner in the city. The campaign promotes the city’s fabulous attractions, shops, bars and restaurants at a time when lockdown is easing, allowing people greater freedom to travel, meet up and spend time together once again.
Alongside showcasing all that the city has to offer, both in the centre and its eclectic neighbourhoods, the campaign will also shine a light on Edinburgh’s abundance of outdoor spaces, including coastal and waterway locations, and support the recovery of regions surrounding the city. The aim is to show how versatile the city we love to live in is and how it delivers a fantastic visitor experience throughout the year.
Over the next six to twelve months, the campaign will feature a series of summer and winter-themed films that will bring Edinburgh’s fascinating stories to life, from its fantastic folklore and magical myths to its historic shores and waters.
It will tell stories from beyond the grave and take a look at Edinburgh’s tasty past and present. Themed itineraries will invite citizens and visitors to explore undiscovered parts of Edinburgh, with more exciting chapters still to be revealed.
The campaign will also include inspiring imagery and dedicated story-themed content and itineraries on Edinburgh.org. This will be supported by targeted social media promotion and collaboration with industry partners and tourism businesses to help them tell their own stories to their loyal fans and audiences.
The overall aim will be to position Edinburgh as the top UK city break destination among domestic overnight visitors across Scotland and England as it emerges from lockdown, while encouraging citizens to engage more with Edinburgh’s cultural offer.
We want to encourage businesses and residents to get behind the campaign by sharing their own stories of Edinburgh using #ForeverEdinburgh, to inspire their friends and fellow citizens and help them plan their next outing in Scotland’s capital city.
Councillor Adam McVey, City of Edinburgh Council Leader, said:“Forever Edinburgh – The Story Never Ends’ is designed to inspire people to get out and about safely and confidently as they seek out old favourites and discover new ones – creating memories that will last a lifetime. All the while supporting our vibrant local businesses as Edinburgh gets back to its fabulous self.
“This campaign puts our people, place and environment at its heart and mirrors our longer-term tourism strategy, approved just before the pandemic took hold. We’re sticking with our long-term goals and have mapped out a sustainable way forward for our tourism sector which Edinburgh’s residents asked for. Ultimately, we need a Team Edinburgh approach to deliver on those aspirations.
“So, I encourage our residents, our businesses from retail and hospitality and our tourism tourism sector to celebrate all that is great about our Capital by telling their own stories and bringing the beauty of our city and landscapes to life.
“Our story is ever-changing and never-ending, and we want our residents and visitors to be a part of that too, helping support our local economy and our City’s fair, inclusive and sustainable recovery.
Donald Emslie, Chair of Edinburgh Tourism Action Group, said: “The reopening of the sector on 26th April is hugely welcome news and after the turmoil of the last year, it is vitally important that we support the recovery of our tourism and hospitality sector throughout the coming weeks and months.
“We are looking forward to encouraging residents and visitors to get out and about to experience the best our city has to offer and supporting our local businesses in the process.
“We will of-course be doing this in the face of strong competition from destinations right across the UK, all of whom will be working just as hard to attract visitors, particularly from UK and Scottish markets.
“We are therefore delighted to have been champions of the Forever Edinburgh initiative since last year. Chairing the Forever Edinburgh Working Group over the last few months has ensured a true partnership approach which has been gratefully recognised by both VisitScotland and Scottish Government whose funding support has allowed us to develop a promotional platform that can work for all tourism and hospitality businesses across the city.
“We’d like to invite everyone right across the city to get behind the campaign and to create and share their own stories with locals and visitors alike.”
Paula Ward, Regional Leadership Director at VisitScotland, said:“Edinburgh is Scotland’s tourism crown jewels and this exciting campaign will help to reinvigorate the city’s tourism sector as it recovers from the devastation left by the pandemic.
“It is the city’s stories and people that are the foundation of what makes Edinburgh a world-class visitor destination. Forever Edinburgh will not only showcase the experiences and businesses found across the city but will act as a springboard for the surrounding regions, with dedicated regional pages, spreading the benefits of tourism to the capital in a sustainable and responsible way.
“For tourism is a force for good – creating economic and social value in every corner of Scotland and enhancing the well-being of everyone who experiences it.”
The ‘Forever Edinburgh – The Story Never Ends’ campaign has been part funded by the Scottish Government’s Regional Recovery Fund and VisitScotland’s Market Readiness Fund.
It will build on last year’s successful launch of Forever Edinburgh – a city-wide collaboration of business from the tourism and hospitality sectors, alongside the Council and other partners, including VisitScotland, ETAG and Scottish Enterprise – and the #ShopHereThisYear, a year-long inspirational digital campaign, aimed at Edinburgh residents encouraging them to support local businesses in neighbourhoods across the city, which kicked off late last year.
Bold plans for the transformation of Edinburgh’s historic George Street would encourage more people to visit the area, according to a public survey.
More than 650 people responded to the survey on final proposed concept designs for the George Street and First New Town Public Realm Improvements Project, which were unveiled in February.
These include significantly widened pavements, landscaped spaces for play and relaxation and a cycling thoroughfare, where motor traffic is largely removed, to create a people-friendly setting.
Two thirds (66%) of respondents said they would be more likely to return to the street as a result of the improvements, with shopping, window shopping and socialising in bars and restaurants amongst the top reasons for spending time there.
When asked about modes of travel, only 13% said they would drive to the New Town in future, with 67% saying they’d walk, 44% would cycle and 58% opting for the bus. Participants also suggested how they would like to see the redesigned street’s open spaces to be animated – preferences included public art, community events and small markets.
66% of respondents to a survey about proposals to transform George St said the new designs would make them more likely to visit the street. Find out more about the feedback received, which will help us refine plans: https://t.co/W7xUjnRCd7pic.twitter.com/4QRgIZPQXh
— The City of Edinburgh Council (@Edinburgh_CC) April 22, 2021
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “These concept designs for George Street build on years of engagement with local people, businesses and active travel and mobility organisations, so I’m delighted with the positive response we’ve had from these very groups, along with the general public.
“Our vision for this street is a relaxed, open and accessible space, where people want to spend time, visit local shops, restaurants and cafes and enjoy the unique historic setting. Feedback so far has demonstrated that our plans will encourage people to do just that, as well as choosing to travel there by foot, bike or public transport.”
Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “It was really exciting to see plans for this iconic part of the city brought to life earlier this year, and I know lots of people enjoyed watching the animated videos and imagining how they could enjoy the street in future.
“Now, thanks to feedback gathered over recent months we’ll be able to refine designs before moving forward with the project and delivering the many benefits it will bring.”
Concept designs for George Street result from several years of development and engagement to refine design objectives with the public and stakeholders, including community councils and heritage, business, walking, cycling and accessibility groups.
In February and March further engagement involved key groups, while the public were invited to see the designs for themselves and tell us how they might enjoy a revitalised George Street through the online survey and interactive virtual events.
Feedback from organisations like Living Streets, Edinburgh Access Panel, Spokes, Edinburgh World Heritage and New Town and Broughton Community Council has been broadly supportive of proposals, while the majority of residents and businesses told us they found engagement sessions useful.
Issues raised during the engagement period, which will require further exploration as the project progresses, include the scale of greening/planting on the street, servicing hours for businesses and taxi access in the evenings.
Feedback gathered will inform a final iteration of the design proposal before being brought to Transport and Environment Committee in June. The required statutory processes under which the scheme will be constructed would begin this autumn.
A new interactive map highlighting Edinburgh’s food growing sites and projects has been launched to mark the release of the city’s first Food Growing Strategy.
The Edinburgh Food Growing and Projects Map provides detailed information on community growing projects, HRA community gardens, council and independently run allotments in the Capital, making it easier for people to find out more about and get involved in local food growing activity in their area.
Its publication marks the launch of ‘Growing Locally’, Edinburgh’s first Food Growing Strategy, which aims to increase the opportunities for people and communities to grow food in Edinburgh, encourage more people to buy and enjoy locally grown food, and encourage more people to become involved in food growing and local food projects.
The strategy outlines plans to increase the amount of food growing space in Edinburgh and develop a local food market, looking at the feasibility of establishing an indoor market and local food distribution hub.
It also sets out ways in which the city can tackle food insecurity and improve access to fresh food.
Councillor George Gordon, City of Edinburgh Sustainability Champion and Chair of Edible Edinburgh said: “I am delighted to publish the first food growing strategy for the City of Edinburgh Council. We have faced difficult times over the last year where the importance of food to our physical health and our emotional and mental wellbeing have been evident for all to see.
“By working closely with the Poverty Commission, Growing Locally seeks to address food insecurity in the city and improve people’s access to fresh food, as well as supporting and promoting food growing across the city.
“It also celebrates the role that food plays in our lives – from bringing people and communities together, to improving biodiversity and mitigating against the effects of climate change by providing access to locally produced, low carbon food.
“Along with the map, the strategy brings together our proposed approach to encouraging more local production, more sustainable management of food growing and perhaps most importantly of all, an ongoing discussion as a city about what a diverse and vibrant food economy looks like, so that the benefits of local food growing can be realised by as many of our citizens as possible.”
Brenda Black, CEO of Edinburgh Community Food said:“Food is key to Edinburgh’s identity and economy and the Edinburgh Food Growing and Project Map provides a gateway for everyone to be involved in making positive food connections within their communities across the city, building better understanding of food and its impact on climate change.
“As Edinburgh moves to meet its climate targets, providing access to growing spaces for its citizens will be a huge step forward in creating a vibrant, low-carbon, food economy for all.
“The pandemic has highlighted how fragile our food supply chains to the most isolated people in our city can be and the Edinburgh Food Growing and Projects Map is an opportunity for citizens to become actively involved in making connections within – and between – communities: growing, preparing/cooking, sharing and selling food.
“Active food communities build strong bonds that transcend religion, age, nationality and culture, and lead to a joint sense of purpose and care for local areas; furthermore, increasing the variety of food sources builds resilience and improves the City’s food security.
“Edinburgh needs a food identity that not only delivers local, seasonal, quality food to visitors but has the power to nurture healthier generations who are able to grow and make their own fresh food.
“Edinburgh Community Food will work together with the Edible Edinburgh partnership to ensure The Edinburgh Food Growing and Projects Map becomes a foundation of this initiative across the city.”
The Edinburgh Food Growing and Projects Map can be viewed at:
A campaign has launched across city schools encouraging parents, carers and families to take extra care at the school gates when they return this week.
Ahead of all pupils resuming in-school learning from today (Tuesday 20 April), we’re sharing advice on steps to take to help limit the potential spread of COVID and make sure schools and childcare settings can remain open.
Posters, leaflets and social media posts are encouraging people to wear face coverings, stay two metres apart and to stick to one adult when dropping off and picking up children, as well as discouraging car sharing and urging neighbouring households to make sure hedges are cut back to give extra space.
Every school in Edinburgh has been assessed for improvements to help families physically distance too. Measures have been put in place at every Council and independent school where extra space is needed to help people walk, cycle and wheel safely.
Amongst the changes are road closures, prohibition of motor vehicles, widened footpaths or better signage, as well as the removal of guardrails and new access gates to aid one-way systems.
Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: “I’m sure children and young people across the city will be looking forward to the return to school and a sense of normality, and the chance to interact with their classmates.
“While this is a positive step in the lifting of lockdown restrictions, we must continue to observe guidance and take care when mixing with other people. Over the last year we’ve been working hard to introduce measures outside of every school to help children and carers walk, cycle and wheel safely and easily while physically distancing.
“We’re also encouraging everyone to follow advice to limit the spread of the virus, helping to make sure children can continue enjoying being back in the classroom.
In February we also introduced a temporary ‘Quiet Connection’ between Greenbank and the Meadows, providing a safer route for children travelling to nearby schools South Morningside Primary School, St Peter’s RC Primary School, James Gillespie’s Primary and High Schools, Bruntsfield Primary School, Boroughmuir High School and Edinburgh Steiner School.
Jessica Cameron, whose children go to James Gillespie’s Primary School, said: “My family really appreciate the new quiet route to the Meadows, which covers a significant portion of our trip to school.
“With traffic reduced on Whitehouse Loan, we have more options for getting to school safely. My kids love cycling and riding scooters, and they’re building their skills and confidence while not having to worry about avoiding cars. With more space, it’s easy for us to socially distance if we run into their friends on the way to school.”
All primary school pupils returned full-time from 15 March, with secondary school pupils resuming in-school learning on a part-time blended basis.
Earlier this month the Scottish Government confirmed all primary and secondary pupils would return to the classroom full-time as part of its easing of lockdown from 12 April (Edinburgh’s Easter holidays run until 20 April), with restrictions in place.
Planning and transport expert, Daisy Narayanan, has been appointed to a new role bringing together placemaking and transport strategy at the City of Edinburgh Council.
Daisy is currently Director of Urbanism for Sustrans and will bring with her a wealth of experience in policy and public realm design, gained through work as an architect and urban designer in India, Singapore, England and Scotland.
In 2018 and 2019, Daisy was seconded to the Council to lead on the successful development of Edinburgh City Centre Transformation, a pioneering ten-year plan to create a vibrant, truly people-friendly city centre.
During this time, she also championed the introduction of Open Streets in Edinburgh, a monthly car-free event in the Old Town, when families and individuals could enjoy the sights and attractions of the city.
As Mobility and Placemaking Senior Manager at the Council, Daisy will focus on several ambitious strategies for the sustainable development of the city as we work towards carbon neutrality by 2030.
Council Leader Adam McVey said: We are delighted to welcome Daisy back to work with us in this role, which is crucial to the sustainable and inclusive development of the Capital, as well as our net zero carbon goals.
“As we work toward a green recovery from the pandemic, we will be focusing our efforts on delivering transport and placemaking projects that truly place people at the heart of the city, and we know that Daisy will bring exactly the kind of experience and passion we need to drive this forward.”
Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “We stand on the cusp of an extremely exciting time for the future development of the city, so it’s fantastic to have Daisy on board to help deliver some of the bold planning and mobility projects we have in the pipeline.
“We know from our own work with Daisy, and her standing across the placemaking and transport profession, what a fantastic addition to the team she will be, and I look forward to working with her.”
Daisy Narayanan said: “I am delighted to be joining the City of Edinburgh Council, as the city recovers from the pandemic, and as it gets ready to tackle the climate emergency.
“This is a really wonderful role which brings together various strands of what make great places. I’m passionate about working with people to shape how their streets and places should look, and to learn from and build on the work done to date in Edinburgh.
“I am under no illusions that this will be an easy job, but I am excited by the challenge.
“When I came here in 2004 as a student, I never dreamed that I would one day have the privilege to work with people in making this beautiful city even more wonderful.
“I am determined to ensure that everyone living here gets to benefit from the city’s development as a greener, healthier place – and that these benefits extend to the outer edges of the city.”
John Lauder, Deputy CEO, Sustrans, and National Director, Sustrans Scotland, said: “Although Daisy will be missed at Sustrans, we are delighted to hear about the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to appoint her to this role.
“It demonstrates the Council’s commitment to making Edinburgh a world-leading liveable city that allows everyone here to live and to travel in greener, healthier ways.
“Daisy has played a huge role in shaping Sustrans, thinking on liveable cities and towns for everyone, and on highlighting the importance of inclusive design and placemaking as a central tenet of urban design.
The City of Edinburgh Council has unveiled its draft plan to become a net zero organisation by 2030.
On Tuesday (20 April), councillors will consider a draft report outlining some of the first steps the Council could take in its own operations, to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.
The draft plan commits the Council to:
Ensuring that all new council operational buildings are constructed to the highest energy criteria and using alternatives to gas boilers for heat as a standard.
A £0.6m investment in scoping and planning for the retrofit of existing Council buildings so they can meet the highest energy efficiency standards.
A plan for electrifying all Council car and van fleets.
An immediate improvement to school recycling facilities.
Investing in the organisations funding capacity and expertise.
Investing in a programme of staff training to develop climate knowledge and skills.
The draft Council Emissions Reduction Plan follows on from the Council signing the Edinburgh Climate Commission’s Climate Compact in December 2020 where it committed to make changes to its operations, transport and buildings to reduce its emissions footprint and support the city’s target of net zero by 2030.
Councillor Adam McVey, City of Edinburgh Council Leader said: The Council’s carbon emissions have fallen by 62% since 2005/06, well above the 42% target we were aiming to hit by 2021. We’ve made particular progress in recent years, with a 51% reduction since 2017/18.
“This ambitious plan aims to build on that success and sets out some of the first steps we’ll need to take across our major emissions sources, to become a net zero organisation by 2030.
“Although the Council’s own emissions only account for 3% of Edinburgh’s total emissions, we need to lead by example in our own work to show others what’s possible.
“The journey to net zero emissions will undoubtedly be difficult, but we have a track record of delivery and firm commitment to deliver on our responsivities to future generations.
“By taking action on climate change and committing to a 10-year strategic approach to deliver a net zero organisation, we’ll not only deliver environmental benefits but deliver wider health, economic and welling benefits for the whole city.
“Becoming a more energy efficient Council; encouraging sustainable travel choices and reducing the amount of waste we produce will positively impact on all of us and help to unlock opportunities to reduce inequalities as we build back better and greener.”
Depute Council Leader, Councillor Cammy Day said: “Edinburgh’s net zero ambition is embedded in a number of our strategies and programmes currently being developed. These will have an impact on both the city and the Council’s emissions footprint.
“Our commitment to only build to net zero or Passivhaus standard wherever possible is an important preventative measure. Investing in the knowledge, skills and capacity to decarbonise and retrofit our Council estate is an important priority to unlock future plans to deliver change.
“We all have a part to play in reducing citywide greenhouse gas emissions. This report shows the Council’s leadership and a commitment to action as well as a culture shift in how the organisation thinks about and plans for climate change.”
According to the most recent emissions footprint calculations for the Council, buildings make up 63% of the organisation’s emissions. Other energy consumption is 16%, fleet 9%, waste 8%, business travel 3% and water 1%.
And, as well as suggesting actions that the Council could take to reduce its impact on the environment, the Emissions Reduction Plan report also highlights opportunities to invest in skills and maximise external funding coming to the Council and the city.
Statistical Publication, City of Edinburgh Council
Edinburgh residents believe that climate change is an immediate and urgent problem according to the latest Edinburgh By Numbers report produced by the City of Edinburgh Council.
The report showed that nearly three quarters (73%) of people across the Capital are very concerned about the climate emergency.
The 14th annual edition of Edinburgh by Numbers provides a statistical overview of the Capital and how it compares to other UK cities in terms of People, Work, Economy, Tourism, Education, Environment, Property, Travel and Connectivity.
This year’s report, covering the time period 2009 to 2019/20, gives a snapshot of a pre-pandemic Edinburgh.
It paints a comprehensive picture of the city’s landscape before the Covid-19 crisis hit the world while also bringing to life our key priorities – as laid out in our three-year business plan, ‘Our Future Council, Our Future City’ – ending poverty, becoming net zero and enhancing wellbeing.
Cllr Adam McVey, Council Leader, said: “These figures show the opportunities that Edinburgh offers to so many of our residents, and demonstrate the attraction for so many people to move here, work here, travel here and study here.
“Although we’ve had a huge disruption to all areas of our lives, our communities and the city more widely during the Covid-19 pandemic, looking at these figures, to pre pandemic times, should give us a sense of optimism about how we go forward.
“We will take stock of the last year and by using our strengths and the resilience we’ve gained, Edinburgh will build back a fairer, stronger and greener economy for the benefit of all our citizens.
“A greener, fairer recovery won’t be without its challenges but our approach to recovery will build a more sustainable future. Through the Edinburgh Guarantee, we’re expanding support to all ages getting back into fair work, education and training.
“We’re working with retail and hospitality businesses through our Forever Edinburgh campaign to help residents and visitors alike sustainably rediscover our beautiful city’s offer all year round.
“We’re welcoming back students to our world-class universities and colleges – once it is safe to do so – to continue their studies, building the skills we need for Edinburgh’s future and creating new technologies that are delivering such a bright economic future for the Capital with opportunities across our communities.
“We also look forward to growing centres of innovation that we invest in, such as the Edinburgh BioQuarter, that feed into the inclusive growth of our economy.
Depute Council Leader, Cllr Cammy Day said:“Tackling inequality and sustainability issues is high on the list of our priorities. Before the pandemic, our economic strategy was focused on good growth, on tackling inequality, on well-being, and also on sustainability.
“The Edinburgh Poverty Commission, an independent group working alongside the council to alleviate poverty in the city, is throwing its full weight behind this and we are investing hundreds of millions of pounds in projects to support this agenda in areas including transport, infrastructure, electronics, pensions, etc.
“We’ll also continue to look at new ways to continue to meet our net zero carbon emissions targets through our City Mobility Plan and our ambitious 30-year housing building and capital investment programme delivering 20,000 affordable and energy efficient homes and carbon neutral neighbourhoods through developments such as the Granton Waterfront, Fountainbridge and Meadowbank.”
Active Travel
In line with the City Mobility Plan, reducing emissions through active travel was also a priority for those going to work. The report highlights that 37% of people took the bus or cycled, over three times the Scottish average. Edinburgh also reported the lowest percentage of journeys undertaken by car or taxi to work at 41.0%, compared to 66.4% of people in Scotland that used these as their main modes of travel to work in 2019.
In the 10 year period, from 2009-2019, Edinburgh saw a growth in new business, with start-ups consistently outstripping closures. More than two fifths (42.1%) of new businesses in the city are still trading after five years, a rate of survival higher than most other UK cities.
In 2019, one in ten (9.6%) people employed in Edinburgh worked in finance and insurance – twice the average across other UK cities – while 50,000 people are employed in the health industry, accounting for nearly 15% of all jobs in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh, relative to other UK cities*, also has a much higher employment share in accommodation and food services, information & communications, and less relative employment in transport and storage, construction and manufacturing.
Forever Edinburgh
The Capital has a renowned global reputation for its hospitality, heritage, culture, festivals, culinary experiences and so much more. From 2013 to 2019, the number of visits by overseas visitors to Edinburgh increased by nearly one million, with the defined summer period proving popular in 2019 with 41% overseas visitors arriving during July to September.
In line with the Edinburgh 2020 Tourism Strategy, driving visitors to visit throughout the year and seasons is key to building a more sustainable tourism sector for the city.
While the traditional peak season increased by 42% – from 568,000 to 804,000 visits between 2013 and 2019 – the increase in the off-season period of October to March was greater – seeing an increase of 113% between January and March, and 143% between October and December.
This will continue to be a focus for the Edinburgh 2030 Tourism Strategy and the push for short-term let legislation to properly control both the concentration and management of holiday lets, putting people and communities at the heart as Edinburgh builds back its thriving tourism sector.
Live and Study
Edinburgh continues to be a vibrant city attracting people from around the world to live, work and study here. In the ten years to 2019 Edinburgh’s population grew by 13.3% to 524,000 people, three times faster than Scotland (4.4%).
Migration (53,000) has been the main driver for population growth in Edinburgh from 2009 to 2019 – five times higher than the net effect of births and deaths for the same 10-year period (10,390). The size of overseas migration to Edinburgh grew to 6,710 in 2018/19, after falling for two consecutive years in 2017/18 to 4,310, returning to levels seen in 2015/16 (6,790).
As reflected in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021, Scotland also has a reputation for excellence in education. In 2019 the number of students enrolled in an Edinburgh university was higher than the number of students in primary and secondary schools.
Four in five (81.6%) higher education students in Edinburgh were from the UK and, compared to other UK cities, Edinburgh has one of the highest proportions of higher education students per 1,000 population.
Also, during 2019, three in five (62.7%) people in Edinburgh’s workforce in employment is educated to degree level or above.
Housing Overview
With more and more people coming to work and study in the Capital this puts increasing pressures on our housing stock with demand outstripping supply, pushing house prices to a premium.
In September 2020, the average property price in Edinburgh was £280,154, higher than most other major UK cities outside London. This compared to the next Scottish city, Glasgow which recorded the average property price of £144,828 – around half of the average cost of Edinburgh.
To support this demand, in the five years to 2019 there were 11,732 new build home completions in Edinburgh. Since 2015, the annual number of new build starts in Edinburgh has exceeded 12,500 – more than double the number of new start builds between 2010 to 2014.
In 2019, a quarter (25%) of Edinburgh households lived in private rented accommodation while more than half (59%) own their own homes. Both are higher rates than recorded across Scotland as a whole and other Scottish cities respectively.
From 2017 to 2019 the number of purpose-built student rooms was 2,677, a slower pace than the previous period, with around 1,500 fewer rooms built than in 2014-2016 (5,036).
*Throughout the Edinburgh by Number Report, Edinburgh is always compared to a comparative group of eight UK cities plus on occasion London.
Eighty per cent of Edinburgh residents are satisfied with services delivered by the Council since lockdown began in March 2020, according to a large-scale city survey commissioned by …the council!
More than 1000 people were interviewed by telephone between October and December for the Capital Residents Survey. The research aims to help us understand how the public have been affected by changes to service provision as a result of the COVID pandemic, and to guide our prioritisation of resources as the city recovers.
As well as reporting high satisfaction with Council services, of participants who had contacted the Council over the last year, 67% said they were satisfied with the service they received. Two thirds of the people who took part also said they felt generally satisfied with their lives.
Despite the challenges of the last year, results demonstrated the positive impacts of lockdown, with over half of the participants (53%) walking for leisure more than before, 45% increasing the time spent talking to friends and family and a third (33%) upping their general exercise.
However, out of survey respondents, people in lower socio-economic groups, those living with a health condition or living alone were more likely to have experienced a negative impact on their wellbeing.
Feedback shed light on people’s changing working habits, with 58% of respondents working from home during the pandemic – 85% of these all or most of the time. Of those who took part in the survey, 55% said they would like to continue working from home all or most of the time after the pandemic, while 41% would prefer to always or mostly work away from home.
Councillor Adam McVey, Council Leader, said: “I am delighted that the people of Edinburgh have recognised the hard work Council staff have put in to maintaining and delivering services during the pandemic.
“It’s been a hugely challenging year for everyone, and we’ve been working extremely hard to make sure Council services are delivered with as little disruption as possible. I know that colleagues across the Council will be really pleased that these efforts have benefited the people of Edinburgh.
“Research like the Capital Residents Survey is incredibly insightful for our own future planning. Not only does the feedback help us to identify areas for improvement, like street cleansing or road conditions, but information will help us plan for the end of lockdown and a full resumption of services.”
Councillor Cammy Day, Depute Leader, said: “Work, travel, social interaction and a whole range of aspects of our lives have changed immeasurably since the pandemic began. This data demonstrates exactly how it has affected the way people have accessed and experienced Council services during this time.
“It’s clear that, while there is light at the end of the tunnel, we’re going to have to adapt our ways of living and working for some time to come. The feedback received will help us to respond to this, and to keep improving the way we communicate with and serve the city’s residents.”
When asked about future provision of services, three quarters of respondents told us it would be more convenient if libraries, community centres and advice services were all available in the same place.
The majority of people who took part (58%) said it would make sense to have all public services delivered from one location, but there were some concerns this wouldn’t work practically.
Fourteen per cent said they were dissatisfied with Council services in general, with roads, communications problems and street cleansing or refuse collection concerns being the main reasons.
Capital Residents Survey – key statistics
Council services
80% of respondents satisfied or very satisfied with Council services; 14% dissatisfied
One in ten respondents had visited Council offices in the past year and one in five had visited their local library
33% said they’d contacted the Council since March 2020; out of these, 48% had done this via the website while 36% had telephoned
Future development of services
Three quarters of respondents agreed that it would be more convenient if libraries, community centres and advice services were all available in the same place. One in five disagreed
76% said they would be comfortable using sports and leisure facilities at a local school
Impact of the pandemic on work, leisure and wellbeing
58% of participants have been working from home – 85% all or most of the time
55% of people said they would like to continue working from home all or most of the time after the pandemic ends
Two thirds of respondents (67%) reported being generally satisfied with their life nowadays
Seven in ten gave a high or very high score in relation to how happy they felt, though one in ten provided a low happiness score of less than five (out of ten)
The results of the survey, which was jointly funded by NHS Lothian, will now be reported to our Adaptation and Renewal Programme working groups to help prioritise future resource and to provide a better understanding of residents’ experiences of the pandemic.
In conducting the survey, quotas were set based on age, gender and geographical location to ensure coverage of both central and outer Edinburgh and to provide good data at city level and by key demographics.
