The Security Industry Authority (SIA), the regulator for the private security industry, ran a safety resilience exercise at the Shanghai Club in Edinburgh’s George Street on Sunday.
The SIA organised the exercise in partnership with Police Scotland counter-terrorism officers, Scottish Ambulance Service and City of Edinburgh Council.
The training event at Shanghai Club confronted security staff with a series of real-time simulations, involving volunteer actors, of possible emergency scenarios. These included an attack with a bladed weapon, an acid attack, a suspect package and a marauding terrorist attack taking place outside the club.
Security teams from Edinburgh and the surrounding area were in attendance to observe.
Ronnie Megaughin, the SIA’s Head of Compliance and Inspections, said: “These realistic scenarios are an excellent method for training security operatives and gives them an ideal opportunity to put their training to use.
“Security operatives may be the first people on the scene in an incident. Yesterday’s staged terror incidents enabled security operatives to take part and deal with the scenario, and then receive an instant debrief from counter-terror experts.
“We know from experience that operatives, and their managers, really appreciate what they learn from these events and find them worth their while. Any of these security staff could find themselves as the first responder at a serious incident, and this exercise could literally be the difference between life and death.”
John Sandlin, SIA Senior Manager Compliance and Inspections, said: “The main aim of exercises like this is to increase public safety in the night-time economy by working with venues and security staff.
“It’s also to showcase best practice by putting the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) security e-learning package, which we’ve been recommending to all SIA-licensed operatives, into practice. We’re really pleased with the commitment that all the security staff put into the exercise at the Shanghai Club.”
This emergency planning exercise at the Shanghai Club continues a programme of similar exercises and follows on from events in Chesterfield, London, Glasgow and Leicester.
Granton’s last remaining gasholder will be transformed following a £1.24 million award from the Scottish Government’s low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme.
Councillors at the Development Management Sub-Committee on 25 January approved planning permission for the next stage of redevelopment of the iconic Granton Gasholder.
Today, it was also announced that the project’s application to the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund has been approved. This will tie in with the overall programme of delivery and will secure up to £1.3m of further grant funding to take this stage of the works forward.
As the restoration of the Gasholder frame continues, work will begin in Autumn 2023 on public realm improvements to the surrounding land.
Ultimately, the goals of the restoration are to ensure development of the surrounding sites can take place whilst opening up the area to create a multifunctional public space that can be used and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur said:“Neglected sites are often found in more disadvantaged settings and can become no-go areas or hamper community development. By targeting long-standing vacant and derelict land we can ensure that investment reaches the areas that need it most.
“The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme helps attract private investment to locations which have lain dormant for years. It also supports low carbon developments, helping Scotland reach net zero by 2045 and grow an economy that is greener, fairer, and more prosperous.
“This green space development at the Granton Gasholder will bring a significant boost for the community and enhance wider regeneration. I look forward to seeing the completed project.”
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I am delighted that councillors have recently approved planning permission for the exciting high quality open space element of the redevelopment to the historic Granton Gasholder.
“The restoration of the Gasholder frame is already underway through funding provided by the Council and the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. With today’s announcement that we’ve been successful in our bid to the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund, we’re now able to progress our plans for creating an exciting public space which will see this iconic structure breathe new life into Granton Waterfront.
“This important development represents our plan to transform the structure, the centrepiece of our £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront, into a visitor destination with high quality open space for everyone to enjoy.
“The wider regeneration is about using brownfield land to develop a sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood its residents will be proud of. It will be an area where people live in affordable, environmentally friendly homes, have excellent transport and active travel links, and access open and green space, arts, sports, and culture. Restoring the Gasholder is the first step in unlocking the wider regeneration.”
A derelict site once central to the Clyde’s shipbuilding industry will be transformed following a £2.4 million award from the low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme.
The Govan Graving Docks were used for final painting and repair of vessels but have lain empty for 40 years. The Scottish Government award to upgrade a riverside walkway and create green space by 2025 is intended to help attract business investment, reverse biodiversity loss and habitat decline and create a visitor attraction.
Further restoration of the historic dockyard will see it used for repairing heritage vessels, while a footbridge linking the site to neighbouring visitor destinations including the Glasgow Science Centre is planned once private sector funding is secured.
It is one of 15 transformational schemes sharing £10 million in 2023-24 from the Programme. Other successful projects include:
Creation of a community learning campus on the site of a former Midlothian colliery
decontamination and redevelopment of former military land at Cromarty Firth to enable construction of 93 affordable homes
reuse of vacant and derelict buildings in Fife as an employment and training hub for rural green jobs and apprenticeships
support for community-led food production in Clackmannanshire
Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur visited the Govan Graving Docks site to meet those behind the project. He said: “Neglected sites are often found in more disadvantaged settings and can become no-go areas or hamper community development. By targeting long-standing vacant and derelict land we can ensure that investment reaches the areas that need it most.
“The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme helps attract private investment to locations which have lain dormant for years, It also supports low carbon developments, helping Scotland reach net zero by 2045 and grow an economy that is greener, fairer and more prosperous.”
Councillor Richard Bell, Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The Govan Graving Docks is a unique site in Glasgow, offering both a glimpse of the city’s past and a view into a future where we realise the potential of this remarkable Clydeside location.
“The very welcome announcement of £2.4 million funding from the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme will allow work to dramatically improve the appearance of the site, create new public green space to be co-designed by the local community, and improve access and connections to Glasgow Science Centre.
“The support announced today will hopefully act as a catalyst for future funding and the development of further stages in the regeneration of the Graving Docks.”
Projects to receive funding from Stage 2 of the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme for 2023-24:
Two-way traffic will return to Leith Walk this month, as preparations for tram testing begin.
North- and southbound traffic along the length of Leith Walk will be reintroduced during the week commencing 13 February, followed by the electrification of the full line.
Energisation of the line will allow for testing and commissioning to begin, with the first test trams expected on the route at the beginning of March. Final track preparations will also take place in the lead up to the first test tram running.
All tram track, overhead line poles and communications and power ducting has been installed, 93% of the overhead lines are in place and the final section at Picardy Place is being installed over the next two weeks.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said:“In just a matter of weeks we’ll see test trams running the length of the Trams to Newhaven route, which is really exciting. Energising the overhead lines and buffering of the tram tracks are the final steps before this happens.
“Reopening Leith Walk to two-way traffic is a key moment for the project too and, I’m sure, for all those who live and work in the area. I’d like to thank residents and businesses for their patience and support while we’ve carried out these works.
Once fully complete, this project will be transformative for Leith Walk and the rest of the route, while benefitting the wider city economy and helping to cut congestion. Not only will it provide reliable, high-capacity connections to the north of the city but has significantly improved and enhanced public spaces and active travel links along the line.”
The Trams to Newhaven project remains on schedule for completion by spring 2023 and within the £207.3m budget, with all major construction now complete ahead of the testing and commissioning period.
This TtN budget does not take into account the massive cost overrun during the original tram project, the failures of which are subject to an ongoing public inquiry under Lord Hardie.
Due to industry wide challenges with the availability of materials and skilled labour, impacted by Brexit and the war in Ukraine along with significant demand for labour in the UK and overseas, there are small pockets of public realm works that will now be completed over the coming months.
A communications campaign has been carried out to remind residents, businesses and stakeholders about the electrification of overhead lines, including safety requirements and permits needed to carry out any work. This work was originally scheduled to take place in October but was re-programmed to allow key infrastructure works to be completed.
To allow for work to connect the lines to take place, Edinburgh Trams services from the airport will terminate at the West End between 13 and 19 February.
A community growing hub which helps people who have been homeless has become the latest local project to benefit from the Council’s community benefits scheme.
Following a great deal of community-based support from buildings solutions service John G Mackintosh (JGM), Pilton-based charity Fresh Start is now benefitting from a new solar power pack – meaning green-fingered volunteers can put the kettle on and enjoy a chat and a tea break while their garden tools charge up.
Allowing everyone involved in the Fresh Start community garden at Ferry Road Drive to shelter from the elements, JGM’s community benefits also includes a new leisure unit, new tables and growing tubs worth £12,000.
Fresh Start is an Edinburgh based charity helping people who have been homeless get established in their new home. Working with volunteers and community organisations, it delivers a range of services which provide practical and social support to help people resettle successfully.
Councillor Jane Meagher, Edinburgh’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “When someone has experienced homelessness, it can be a daunting and difficult transition to a new home, a new local community and a new way of life.
“We have an incredible third sector in Edinburgh and charities like Fresh Start offer support to people as they settle in. Gardening is a great way to connect with others and with nature in your area. It’s also an opportunity to learn new skills and I’m really pleased we’ve been able to support this community growing initiative. The donations and time clearly mean a lot and will make a big difference.
“As the largest social landlord in the city the Council has a great number of projects underway at any given time to improve or build new homes. Our community benefits scheme is a way for the contractors we employ in housing to give back and we’ve been impressed by John G Mackintosh’s response.
“It follows their £3.5m contract with us to upgrade vents at six multi-storey Council blocks in Moredun, and now this investment providing safe and warm homes is going full circle.”
Adrienne Mee, Community Growing Manager at Fresh Start,said: “The help we’ve received for the project has exceeded our expectations. The installation of the container is perfect for our planned tool lending library as well as shelter from the weather during gardening sessions. In the spring we will be able to offer garden workshops and tools for people in the area.
“It’s a great resource and we hope it will encourage people to have a go at gardening and help them develop their back greens or grow fruit or vegetables on their balconies. The tables and planters will help us to make this a really nice area for people who live in the flats to relax and enjoy being outside once the weather warms up.”
John Gellatly, Director of John G Mackintosh (JGM), said: “When JGM first became aware that as part of the Communities Benefit program there was an exciting opportunity to put something back into the community that was tangible, we were excited about the potential of this.
“After initial discussions and consultation, we were made aware of the Community Garden project at West Pilton, where JGM met up with the Council and Fresh Start to discuss the project further. We established the best position to site a lockable 20 foot container and agreed the design and layout of the paving to interwork with the existing garden area and the new storage container.
“Using JGM’s experience in the sector, it became apparent that in providing a solar panel solution for the container this attribute would add significantly to the benefits and flexibility that the users would have in using the container for their desired requirements.
“Over two visits JGM firstly did all the groundworks and sited the container in the chosen position and on their second visit the solar panel and internal electrics were added. Some additional works were carried out to install shelving and line the walls within the container, plus some planters and picnic bench seating were supplied to enhance the experience of the end users.”
A Scottish Government Reporter has granted planning permission for a planning application by S1 Developments for an ‘exciting new student residential development’ at Edinburgh’s former Tynecastle High School site.
In addition to 468 bedspaces, 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.
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.
In his report, the Reporter noted that the “development of the site for mainstream housing would be constrained by the presence of the listed buildings”, making student development a more viable option.
In addition, he identified the site which is dominated by the football ground and North British Distillery, as being more suitable for students “who would only spend part of their year in residence” and then only for the length of their University or college courses.
The Reporter also noted the proximity of universities and colleges to the site and that the student population in the local area, including the proposed development would be approximately 24% and therefore not lead to an overly concentrated student population in the area.
He notes that this figure is well below the 50% given to demonstrated excessive concentration of students and in his view would not lead to an “imbalanced community”.
Developers S1 Developments 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.
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.
Charity People Know How will act as preferred operators for community facilities on the site. This which already works with Tynecastle High School, will operate a community facility within the building.
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.
Dan Teague, Director at S1 Developments, said: “We’re delighted to have received planning permission for this exciting development.
“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, our proposed use brings with it an opportunity to save and renovate the original school building and continue its educational use, benefitting the local community.
“The Reporter also noted that this was a site more suitable for student housing than mainstream housing due to the constraints of the football stadium and North British Distillery.
“We look forward to working constructively with the community in delivering this development.”
Work is set to get underway to transform public spaces along a route between Roseburn and the Union Canal, creating a ‘green corridor’ and cycleway and bringing disused areas back into community use.
Funding for the project has been provided by Sustrans through its Places for Everyone programme, an active travel infrastructure fund backed by the Scottish Government, which helps deliver walking, wheeling and cycling improvements across the country.
Amongst improvements are two new bridges crossing over the Mid Calder railway line and Dalry Road leading to Dalry Community Park, community gardens at Sauchiebank and Duff Street and upgrades to the sports pitch and playpark at Dalry Community Park, designs for which were developed in consultation with Dalry Primary School pupils.
The project will also provide a key link in Edinburgh’s active travel network, delivering a 4m wide pedestrian and cycle path connecting the North Edinburgh Path Network to Fountainbridge alongside new pedestrian crossings and access points.
A comprehensive planting strategy will allow the active management of currently underused and largely inaccessible woodland, helping to create healthier and more diverse woodland with longer-term opportunities to enhance its ecological value. This will involve planting almost 5000 woodland and semi-mature trees. Approximately 450 trees will be felled in order to deliver the project, including trees which have been identified as ash and would be removed as part of long-term maintenance planning.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “This project will transform the route between Roseburn and the Union Canal, where disused and inaccessible areas will become welcoming, green community spaces encouraging biodiversity and play.
“It will also plug a gap in the city’s active travel network by providing a high-quality pedestrian and cycle path between Fountainbridge and the extremely popular North Edinburgh Path Network, as well as leading to the City Centre West to East Link, which is currently under construction.
“We’ll do everything we can to minimise disruption over the coming year and we’ll continue to keep residents up to date as we progress the scheme.”
Roseburn to Union Canal’s final design builds on several years of engagement with the public and stakeholders and aligns with the City Mobility Plan in supporting people to walk, wheel, cycle and spend time in their local community, in turn contributing to the city’s net zero carbon goals.
Michael Melton, Grant Manager for Sustrans, said:“We’re delighted to see works now starting on the Roseburn to Union Canal project in Edinburgh. After several years of design and engagement with the local community, this transformative project will not only provide a vital connection for walking, wheeling, and cycling in the heart of the city, but will also serve as an accessible greenspace for everyone to enjoy.“
“The project site will be fenced off from 6 February, and Dalry Community Park will also be closed from 6 February for the duration of construction.
Between 20 February and 23 March the two-lane section of the West Approach Road, between Westfield Road and Dalry, will close so that safe construction work can begin. A diversion will be in place to help minimise disruption.
The section between the Dundee Street ramps and Lothian Road will remain open. Further information on changes to bus services can be found on Lothian Buses’ website.
More than 200 affordable homes have been given the green light this week, allowing the Council to create more much-needed affordable housing.
At least 130 of these new homes will be for social rent at key sites in Greendykes, Wester Hailes and Dreghorn.
It follows decisions by the Development Management Sub Committee on Wednesday (25 January) to grant permission for newbuild sites and agreement by the Finance and Resources Committee on Thursday (26 January) for the Council to purchase empty homes from the Ministry of Defence.
Of the 140 new homes agreed for Greendykes, 74 will be Council homes.
They form the final phase of the Council’s 15-year Greendykes masterplan, which is delivering 2,200 new homes in total alongside four new schools, a new public park, a brand new town centre and 300,000 sq ft of retail space.
The project is also the second pilot for the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator (EHD) programme, meaning innovative construction methods will be used to build these homes offsite before delivering them to Greendykes where they will offer residents’ net zero carbon homes. This is a significant milestone for the EHD programme and the Greendykes area as we look to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing that is aligned with the current Net Zero Carbon approach of the Council.
Of the 73 new homes granted for Wester Hailes,41 will be Council homes.
They will be built at a derelict site in Murrayburn Gate where the Wester Hailes Health Centre once stood. The site is next to the Westside Plaza shopping centre and close to rail links, with the community to also benefit from a new public footway to the nearby Canal View Primary School.
All 23 empty homes agreed to be bought in Dreghorn are currently owned by the Ministry of Defence and are based along Dreghorn Place and Dreghorn Drive. The homes will be made available for social rent from the Council.
Councillor Jane Meagher, the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Never has our need for affordable housing been greater as we face a cost-of-living crisis and a climate emergency. The decisions made this week demonstrate our Council’s commitment to urgently creating the homes Edinburgh needs.
“I’m particularly pleased that we’ll be able to deliver so many homes for social rent. We want to provide everybody with a safe and warm place to live but we’re facing growing homelessness in Edinburgh. This remains a challenge, but these new properties that we’re buying and building are going to help many people in desperate housing need.
“And, as we build these new homes, we’ll create well designed places. Innovative offsite manufacturing of net zero homes such as those planned for Greendykes will help tenants and residents to keep their fuel bills down. This work will be taken forward alongside retrofitting many of our existing homes, so that older Council properties are also brought up to a better standard.”
An integrated suite of draft action plans to help transform the way people move around Edinburgh has been published ahead of Transport and Environment Committee next Thursday (2 February).
If approved next week, an extensive public consultation will take place on the three draft plans alongside the draft Road Safety and Air Quality Action Plans, which were previously approved. Consulting on the five plans together will help people understand the common issues and further shape the proposed actions.
These actions are intended to work together towards key Council objectives including cutting car kilometres by 30% by 2030, reducing congestion and improving health and wellbeing, as well as the vital net zero goal.
Each of the plans sit under the emerging Circulation Plan and its associated Streetspace Allocation Framework. This framework considers how to best use the limited space on our streets to better support people walking, wheeling, cycling and using public transport, while taking the needs of other street users into account. This approach is essential to helping the city transition towards a lower traffic, more liveable, healthy and sustainable place.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “This ambitious set of action plans and the overarching Circulation Plan build on the commitments in the City Mobility Plan.
“They provide detailed actions to direct investment in and to deliver of a more sustainable, inclusive and affordable transport system. This is essential as we work towards a city where we can all enjoy a healthy environment, get around conveniently and, crucially, achieve net zero carbon emissions.
“It’s clear that we can’t address one area of transport without tackling another, which is why we’re considering each of the plans together. Whether it’s delivering safer streets, providing better connections to and around the city or improving air quality, the issues, solutions and actions cut across our plans.
“Investing in sustainable transport to help cut congestion is key to ensuring Edinburgh’s continued economic prosperity. This will take significant investment, and to help demonstrate the need for funding from the Scottish Government we will build a formal business case which helps confirm the economic and wellbeing benefits. We will also show that this investment is key to creating a more equal Edinburgh which is ready to show leadership in the transition towards sustainable travel.
“If approved, we’ll be seeking the public’s views to help further shape the future of transport in Edinburgh, to the benefit of generations to come.”
All of the actions are intended to be complementary across the action plans. For example, both lower speed limits and better routes to school are safety measures that support active travel. Similarly, enhanced parking enforcement can improve conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling and also reduce bus journey times.
Active Travel Action Plan
The ATAP sets out to deliver a walkable and fully accessible city, where cycling is a realistic choice for all through major enhancements to Edinburgh’s walking, wheeling and cycling networks. Actions, which are estimated to require between £824m and £1,124bn investment, include –
Improving walking and wheeling: Create easy-access, step-free, uncluttered pavements through measures like ensuring every junction has ‘dropped’ kerbs, levelling pavements (for example where the gradient at places like driveways makes them hard to use in a wheelchair) and delivering more and better pedestrian crossings.
Improving cycling: Deliver a joined-up network of routes which are within 400m of every household and that feel safe at all times of day using segregated cycle tracks on main roads, as well as unsegregated routes on streets with low volumes of motor traffic. Alongside this accelerate the roll-out of cycle parking.
Better shopping streets and neighbourhoods: Measures in support of the 20-minute neighbourhood strategy. Work with businesses to transform shopping streets, focusing on making them better places for people. Implementing low-traffic, liveable neighbourhoods in residential areas to address rat-running and improve conditions for active travel. Lower speed limits, especially on rural roads.
Street design and supporting active travel in and from new developments: Use Edinburgh Street Design Guidance in the planning process for new developments to ensure active travel and public transport use, rather than car-dependence, are encouraged.
Access to green space and cycling for leisure: Improved crossings and accesses to support Edinburgh’s Open Space Strategy and better signing and path upgrades to support leisure cycling.
Supporting and encouraging active travel: An expanded behaviour change programme focusing on campaigns to complement new infrastructure.
Public Transport Action Plan
By delivering an enhanced public transport system, including bus priority measures and higher quality infrastructure supporting faster journey times, Edinburgh will be connected by a safer and more inclusive net zero carbon transport system.
Amongst the actions are –
Addressing the climate emergency: Deliver a programme of behaviour change interventions to encourage public transport use and working with operators on options for a net zero carbon fleet.
Providing safe, affordable and accessible public transport: Deliver integrated ticketing across Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, as well as rail; strengthen partnerships with taxi and private hire car trade and car club partners as key providers of the city’s shared mobility offering.
Delivering a reliable and efficient network to support growth: Proposed extension of bus lane hours and bus stop realignment to improve journey times, while maintaining access for all along with other bus priority measures.
Enhancing regional connectivity: Develop mass rapid transit plan for the city and region, deliver North / South tram line linking Granton to the Bio Quarter and beyond and consider future use of South Suburban Rail Line as well as the opportunity for a cross-Forth ferry.
Improving governance and coordination: Deliver new governance arrangements for Council owned public transport operators; align operational management of the public transport companies with the city’s transport policies.
Parking Action Plan
By being ambitious about expanding controlled parking zones and restricting parking in new developments, we can reduce car usage and, in turn, congestion on streets, particularly as the city’s population expands. Key areas are –
Communications: Increasing awareness of parking operations, proposals and consultations while improving data gathering and customer insight.
Parking controls: These play an important part in many people’s everyday lives by determining where deliveries are made, where local residents including people with mobility difficulties can park and where people can cross the road, cycle and access public transport more safely.
Parking management: The Council has a duty to manage and maintain public streets, with parking management important for achieving this aim through permits and pricing to help manage demand and ensure parking opportunities are available.
Parking enforcement: Vital for parking management to function effectively, with on-street parking regulations and enforcement applied to establish an orderly use of the available urban space.
Reducing vehicle emissions: Managing kerbside space differently by allocating space to support electric vehicle charging and car sharing through car club vehicles. This can help to reduce vehicle emissions and encourage sustainable mobility.
The Air Quality and Road Safety Action Plans were approved for consultation by Transport and Environment Committee on 8 December. If the remaining plans are approved on 2 February a period of public consultation and engagement will be carried out between March and July. Please keep an eye out for more details on how you can get involved – this will include information via our Future Edinburgh webpages.
