The city council has set out plans on the delivery of a ‘new-look’ housing strategy which aims to significantly increase the number of affordable homes in the city from 3,000 to 8,000 and accelerate investment in the services that will reduce tenants’ cost of living. Continue reading Housing: city council plots the way ahead
Hinds welcomes improved recycling figures
Two pilot projects to improve recycling provision for city tenements and flats have seen the amount of some materials recycled increase by up to 300%. Continue reading (High) rise in tenement recycling!
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For each session, there are 100 spaces available for third sector leaders and board members and these will be allocated on a first-come basis and limited to two attendees per organisation (one senior staff and one board member) only. While there is no charge for attending the event, organisations will need to directly consider any related costs for sending representatives to the Forum.
For organisations that wish to send representatives, please complete the following:
| Organisation Name | ||
| Attender 1 (staff) | Attender 2 (board) | |
| Session 1 | ||
| Attender 1 (staff) | Attender 2 (board) | |
| Session 2 | ||
Please send details of your nominated representatives to Korstiaan Allan at Korstiaan.Allan@edinburgh.gov.uk or call 0131 469 3847.
A mobile phone/tablet app to help support people in Edinburgh who are recovering from drug or alcohol addiction has been launched.
The Addiction Recovery Companion-Edinburgh (ARC-Edinburgh) is the result of a collaboration between the City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Apps winners Anne-Marie Mann and Ella Robbins. It aims to help its users to link to the extensive addiction recovery network in the capital, to track their progress and to boost motivation. Continue reading New app companion to aid city’s addiction recovery community
Sunday parking: ‘Status quo not sustainable’ – Cllr Lesley Hinds
City councillors will decide how Sunday parking controls will be introduced at a meeting of the Transport and Environment committee next week. Continue reading Sunday parking fees set to be introduced
Summer makeover for Drumbrae Leisure Centre
Drumbrae Leisure Centre will be closed over the school holidays, the city council has announced. Continue reading Drumbrae Leisure Centre to close over summer
Further evidence of human remains thought to date back to the 17th Century or even earlier have been unearthed by archaeologists in a Leith school playground.
The outlines of at least nine coffins have been identified in the grounds of St Mary’s Primary School in Leith as part of an excavation by Morrison Construction in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council.
The findings follow the discovery on an individual skeleton over the Easter break while investigative works took place for a new classroom building.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The new information coming from the site is proving to be even more significant than previously thought.
“The school community has been very interested in the excavation and the findings. The children have been eager to learn about the new discoveries and as the excavation continues, we’ll find out more about the former inhabitants of Leith.”
John Lawson, City of Edinburgh Council Archaeologist, added: “Leith and the surrounding area has a rich archaeological history. These excavations have unearthed what appears to be a complex cemetery thought to date from the 15th to the 17th centuries, containing at least nine graves including adults and young children buried in coffins.
“The discoveries of these burials in this location, although always a possibility, is nevertheless a surprise. Further excavations will reveal more evidence which will allow us to accurately date these burials and how they relate to the history of Leith.”
The area containing the remains has been fenced off but the school remains open. The new classrooms will still be built but will no longer open in time for the new school term due to further necessary archaeological analysis, expected to last until the end of June. All existing and new pupils will be accommodated.
The city council has confirmed that an independent inquiry into school closures will commence after the summer holidays. Continue reading PPP school closures: independent inquiry confirmed
Edinburgh-based Konishi Gaffney Architects is the winner of a competition to design a temporary pavilion as Edinburgh’s entry to the Pop-Up Cities Expo, a headline event for the Festival of Architecture and part of the Year of Innovation Architecture and Design, being held at the Mound this summer.
The competition was organised by the City of Edinburgh Council in conjunction with the Edinburgh Architectural Association (EAA). The winning pavilion is engineered by TALL engineers; it is being fabricated locally by artist and maker Johannes Sailer and is supported by several Scottish timber companies.
The architects’ brief was for a pavilion intended to be an aspirational ‘snapshot’ of Edinburgh, inspiring future generations of architects to come.
Entrants were asked to prepare proposals that would represent Edinburgh on a world stage, showcase the city including its World Heritage status, and reflect the location of the pavilion at the Mound.
Cllr Ian Perry, Convener of the Planning Committee, said: “Edinburgh is well known internationally for its iconic skyline and architecture. We are immensely proud of our World Heritage Status and this competition is a great example of how we can continue to raise our game and inspire local architects of the future. I would like to congratulate Konishi Gaffney on their well deserved win as they are a shining example of the quality of architects we have in the city.”
Kieran Gaffney of Konishi Gaffney Architects, said: “We are delighted to have won this competition and to represent Edinburgh at the Pop-Up Cities Expo. Our idea is based on a folded origami form developed from thinking about the brief for a pop-up pavilion. The form is made from two pyramids laid back to back with three openings pulled out: one for the door, one for a fixed window and one for an opening window for ventilation. The proposal is innovative in its design and minimised the use of materials. Using locally sourced timber means a small carbon footprint and the pavilion is intended for re-use at other events and functions. The proposal has an interesting, decorative structure and the simple form is materially and structurally efficient. We think the construction system should be quick and easy to install.”
Donald Canavan, President of the EAA, said: “The Edinburgh Architectural Association is delighted to be involved in facilitating this exciting competition, and was greatly impressed by the quality of the entries. Although such pavilions are temporary, the winning entry, by Konishi Gaffney, was agreed as a gem, offering a splendid tribute to Edinburgh, and to the architectural profession within the chapter area. We greatly look forward to the Expo and are sure the story told by the Edinburgh pavilion and its exhibits will be intriguing and memorable.”
Foster Care Fortnight starts tomorrow
The City of Edinburgh Council exceeded its foster carer recruitment target last year for the very first time. The positive figures were revealed ahead of the council’s Foster Care Fortnight which has a theme this year of ‘Time to Foster, Time to Care’. Continue reading Time to Foster, Time to Care
