Tag: city council

£4.6m new extension transforms Frogston Primary School

A major extension to Frogston Primary School in Edinburgh has been completed, delivering six new classrooms along with additional office and breakout space to support the school’s growing roll.

The original school building, completed in 2021, was designed with future expansion in mind as part of the City of Edinburgh Council’s strategy to cater for several new significant housing developments included in the City Plan 2030.

Foundations were extended at the time to allow the new accommodation to tie seamlessly into the existing substructure. The latest works also include new external facilities and landscaping, with materials carefully selected to match the appearance of the original building.

Structural and civil engineering was provided by Will Rudd, a locally based multi‑award‑winning engineering consultancy.

Frogston Primary now supports more than 500 learners, including around 100 nursery children and 400 primary pupils.

Construction was carried out while the school remained fully operational, with works planned around teaching activities to minimise disruption. The connection between the existing building and the new extension required only minimal alterations to the original fabric, further reducing impact on school operations.

The £4.6m project has been built to an enhanced energy performance standard and will welcome pupils after the summer holidays.

Sebastian Mitel, Project Engineer at Will Rudd Edinburgh, said: “It was incredibly rewarding to help create more space for the pupils and teachers at Frogston Primary.

“Will Rudd has extensive experience delivering education buildings in Edinburgh and beyond. The main challenge was ensuring construction had minimal impact on a busy school environment, and that no learning time was lost.

“This excellent new space is testament to the collaborative work of the design team, the contractor, and the school.”

Lorraine Lawrie, Head Teacher at Frogston Primary School, said: “Our pupils have loved watching the construction team at work, but they are even more excited to explore this new part of their school.

“With more than 500 children attending Frogston, this additional space will help them thrive and enjoy a really positive learning experience.”

Holmes Miller acted as architect, with Henry Brothers as main contractor. Project management and quantity surveying were delivered by AtkinsRealis, landscaping by ERZ, and M&E design by Blackwood Partnership.

Residents asked to share views on Community Payback Orders

A consultation is now open inviting Edinburgh residents to share their views on Community Payback Orders and the unpaid work carried out in their area.

Last year alone, just under 50,000 hours of unpaid work was completed in Edinburgh – equivalent to over 6,000 working days. Projects supported over the last year include:

  • Gyle Park Pavilion – Improvement work to the appearance of Gyle Park Pavilion and the car park. This included repainting exterior doors and step bannisters to cover up unpleasant graffiti and work in the car park to clear vegetation in the car park drainage channels.
  • The Ferry Road project – The unpaid work team helped clear areas in the community blighted by rubbish and fly tipping. The work had a big impact on the local environment making a previously heavily littered area useable and accessible.
  • Leith Theatre – The unpaid work women’s group cleared the outdoor space at Leith Theatre. This included weeding, gardening and pruning trees to make the area safe and accessible.

Edinburgh residents are encouraged to share their views on the unpaid work part of a CPO, which replaced community service in 2011. We want to know:

  • Do you have any experience of people doing unpaid work in your community?
  • Do you think unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for the crimes they have committed?
  • Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?

CPOs are given by the Court to enable people to make amends for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence, with communities putting forward ideas to their local authority for the unpaid work carried out where they live.

Council Leader and Chair of the Edinburgh Partnership Jane Meagher, said: “Community Payback Orders (CPOs) offer an alternative and more positive way for people to repay locally for crimes committed.

“We know that CPOs are mutually beneficial to both the individual and the wider community. For those completing a CPO, they have the chance to learn new skills, work as part of a team, and make a positive contribution to society.

“This year alone, with just under 50,000 hours of unpaid work carried out, we’ve seen a real difference to communities with previously unused or neglected areas transformed and, in some cases, put back into use.

“I encourage all Edinburgh residents to take the opportunity to have their say on the future of unpaid work and how it could benefit their local community in the future.”

Share your views here.

Preparations ongoing ahead of Edinburgh Visitor Levy launch

TWO WEEKS TO GO

As Edinburgh prepares for the introduction of the Visitor Levy on Friday 24 July, the Council is providing ongoing support to businesses in the visitor economy.

A new Visitor Levy team has been visiting accommodation providers across the city, answering questions and helping to explain what businesses need to do to prepare for the levy. They have also been encouraging sign-ups to the online platform for submitting levy returns and making their payments, the first of which are due in October.

The Council has also prepared a range of display materials to help businesses to explain the levy to their guests, summarising key information and the benefits the scheme will bring to the city. This includes a Q&A document covering the most commonly asked questions by visitors.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “With two weeks to go until the official introduction of the Edinburgh Visitor Levy, I’m very aware of how our busy the city’s accommodation providers already are and want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to support them.

“We’ve been in regular touch with industry representatives throughout the process and I’m extremely grateful to them for their constructive feedback and support. We know their guests will have questions of their own about the levy, how it works and how the funds will be invested – and we’ve developed a range of materials to share with guests and direct them to the most up-to-date information about the scheme.

“We’re the first city in the UK to introduce a visitor levy of this scale, and we’ve built our approach around engagement and support.

“This is a big opportunity for us all to work together and enhance Edinburgh’s position as one of the most popular visitor destinations in the world.”

Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy scheme was formally agreed in January 2025.

The levy applies to paid overnight accommodation booked after 1 October 2025, if the stay takes place from 24 July 2026 onwards. It is a 5% payment on the accommodation-only cost and applies to the first 5 nights’ stay.

The scheme is projected to raise up to £50 million a year to invest in protecting, supporting and enhancing Edinburgh’s worldwide appeal as a place to visit and live.

The first full set of investment programmes for funding raised by the levy was agreed earlier this year, and will be directed through three well-defined themes: City Operations and Infrastructure; Culture, Heritage and Events; and Destination and Visitor Management.

Summertime Streets changes return

With the summer festivals season just around the corner, the city council is making temporary changes to the way some of our city centre streets operate between Sunday 19 July and Monday 7 September 2026.

During this busy period the population of our city effectively doubles, which brings challenges for our residents, businesses and visitors.

These temporary changes, which include removing or restricting vehicle traffic, are designed to make our streets easier and safer to walk around.

George Street and several streets in the Old Town will be impacted. A full list of streets along with further information is available on the council’s website.

There is also specific advice for blue badge holders, home deliveries, loading and services for businesses, places of worship and special arrangements.

You can find more information and advice on events in the city over the summer on the Council’s website.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “We’re ready to welcome the world back to the Capital, and as always, we’re making sure that these higher visitor numbers are managed properly.

“These temporary changes to our city centre streets have proven very successful for many years and I’m sure that this summer will be no different. The planned full reopening of the North Bridge in time for the festivals will also be a great boost for people getting around the city.

“Our residents and businesses have my thanks for their understanding and patience as we prepare to showcase and enjoy our city’s unparalleled cultural offering once again.”

Launch of Edinburgh Division City Centre Policing Unit

A new City Centre Policing Unit, supported by funding from the Visitor Levy, has officially launched in Edinburgh.

In January 2025, the City of Edinburgh Council formally agreed to introduce a 5% charge on overnight accommodation within the Capital for those visiting on or after 24 July 2026.

It is anticipated that £50m revenue will be raised each year to sustain and enhance Edinburgh’s reputation as one of the most beautiful and enjoyable destinations in the world.

Following the announcement of the visitor levy’s introduction, Edinburgh Division has been liaising with the Council, and an agreement was reached to fund the City Centre Policing Unit (CCPU).

The new team, which begins duties on Thursday, 2 July, will provide additional police officers dedicated to proactively patrolling the Capital’s city centre thanks to investment from the Council’s Visitor Levy over the next three years, which has been match-funded by Police Scotland.

 The CCPU comprises of an Inspector, three sergeants and 45 constables.

Having an expanded city centre resource will also allow Edinburgh Division to provide an early and effective response to spontaneous challenges, as well as reducing demand on frontline officers from other areas of the city – allowing them to increase their focus on serving other neighbourhoods across the city.

The CCPU will play a pivotal role in supporting planned city-centre events and will work alongside specialist units such as The Retail Crime Taskforce and Scottish Violence Reduction Unit to ensure specific crime-types affecting the city-centre community are affectively addressed.

Cllr Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: The Visitor Levy is already helping to deliver real, tangible benefits for our Capital city ahead of its full introduction on 24 July.

“By working closely with our partners at Police Scotland to support this new policing unit, we’re ensuring that the people who live, work and visit Edinburgh feel safer and better supported – not only in our bustling central streets, but in neighbourhoods across the city by reducing demand on existing officer resources.

“The results of this partnership demonstrate exactly what the levy is designed to do: reinvest in the services and infrastructure that keep our city welcoming, vibrant, and successful.

“We will now see the levy’s first investments making a visible difference on the ground, and there’s much, much more to come in the years to come.

“From investing more in our public spaces, parks, and greenspaces to restoring cultural heritage like the Royal High School and Leith Theatre, our visitor levy projects stand to benefit everyone.”

Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, said: “Edinburgh’s city-centre is a unique and vibrant destination for residents, businesses and visitors, and it is absolutely vital that we have appropriate resources in place to ensure it remains a safe place to live, work, and visit.

“Our partners at the City of Edinburgh Council recognised the importance of having a dedicated policing team to serve the specific needs of the city-centre and the Visitor Levy revenue was identified as an ideal opportunity to achieve this.

 “Almost 50 officers will now support policing operations and activity within the city-centre, and I am delighted that our council partners have shared our vision of how the CCPU can provide immense benefits to the city.

“With the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe only a few short weeks away, and the festive celebrations emerging on the horizon, the CCPU will have to hit the ground running. However, I am confident that the team will quickly demonstrate their value to not only the city-centre, but to the Division as a whole.”

Council call for help to develop and protect future communities

A consultation on how the Council should shape our communities, and the wider city, to meet the needs of local people and a growing population, is open from today until 30 September.

‘Call for Ideas’ is an opportunity for those living and working in the city to give their ideas and proposals at this early stage in the process to help set the direction of the next local development plan – City Plan 2040. The consultation is asking residents including young people, community councils and groups, businesses, social enterprises, the public and private sector, developers and landowners to share their vision, proposals and every idea will be considered.

Anyone passionate about how their community will look in the future and how City Plan 2040 can help to protect it should get involved. Ideas need to relate to a specific area but can be any size covering a whole district, neighbourhood, a single plot of land or building.

Planning Convener, Councillor Joan Griffiths said: “Your idea could cover proposals for new buildings and homes, improving how you get around, additional spaces for playing, sports or growing food or ideas to reuse important buildings.

“It would be good to know why you think it’s important for your area and why it would a make a difference. Your local knowledge will help us focus on making change where it is needed.

“I’d encourage you to find out what others think by reaching out to your community to find out what is most important to them. You could ask about the changes you’d like to make, what you’d like to protect, what they think is missing in the community and you can point out planning policies you think could be changed.

You could do this through surveys and questionnaires, drop in events, exhibitions and by attending planned local events.

“My vision is that you can help us create City Plan 2040 to strengthen communities and make sure that they look after the wellbeing of their residents.

“We want to build attractive places where people can afford to buy or rent their homes, walk to educational and healthcare facilities, enjoy cultural and sporting activities and easily access sustainable transport to visit other parts of Edinburgh.”

Further information:

The Evidence Report outlining the critical information which should be considered to create City Plan 2040, compiled following engagement with residents including young people, government agencies, politicians, and other stakeholders over the last couple of years, was agreed by Council on Thursday 24 June. 

The document, which also sets out the implications of the evidence examined, will now be considered by the Scottish Government for ‘Gate Check’.

When the Scottish Government decides there is sufficient evidence, the next step is for the Council to prepare a proposed plan and consult on it.

Evidence Report for City Plan 2040 – Approval to Submit for Statutory Gate Check Stage – referral frDownload

Share your views on Firework Control Zones (FCZs) for 2026

Residents are being encouraged to have their say on proposed Firework Control Zones (FCZs) for autumn 2026 as a public consultation gets underway across Edinburgh.

The consultation is seeking views on continuing Firework Control Zones in Corstorphine, Longstone, Sighthill/Broomhouse, Mordeun and The Murrays, as well as introducing new zones in Liberton Grange, Lochend, Stenhouse/Gaskell Street, West Pilton and Wester Hailes.

Firework Control Zones prohibit the use of fireworks within designated areas for a limited period and form part of a wider package of measures designed to improve public safety, reduce anti-social behaviour and support local communities during the fireworks season.

Earlier this year, community groups were invited to apply for Firework Control Zone status in their neighbourhoods. Applications highlighted concerns about the misuse of fireworks, anti-social behaviour, and the impact on animals, older people and other vulnerable residents.

The proposals build on the positive results seen in recent years, with Edinburgh experiencing significantly lower levels of firework-related anti-social behaviour compared with previous years.

Councillor Margaret Graham, Convener of Culture and Communities, said: “We want to hear directly from residents and communities about the areas being considered for Firework Control Zones again this year.

“They are just one of the measures we’re using to improve safety and reduce firework-related anti-social behaviours to make sure our communities can enjoy Bonfire Night in a safe and responsible way.

“I’d encourage everyone to take part in the consultation and help shape our approach for the 2026 fireworks season.”

The consultation will run from Wednesday 24 June until Wednesday 5 August on the Council website.

Granton pupils bring 30 years of Capital’s heritage to life

Granton Primary School children using the 30th anniversary of the Old and News Towns World Heritage Site in Edinburgh as inspiration to create an exhibition to help mark this important milestone.

The children’s artwork will be displayed in a special exhibition for residents and visitors to view in the Museum of Edinburgh later this year to celebrate three decades since the Site was inscribed by UNESCO in 1995.

The class of primary four pupils are working with local artist Stephanie Walker on their ‘Imagine if…’ project to help the children put together artwork using the Old Town to help spark excitement and curiosity for the world around us. The aim of the project is to create a connection and a sense of wonder for the valuable heritage Edinburgh is so famous for.

 Local artist Stepanie Walker said: “The project has been designed to guide the children through a series of art sessions to help them imagine and create their final piece to display on canvas.

 “Before our visit to the World Heritage Site we explored what we know about Edinburgh. The children brainstormed and shared ideas about famous buildings and drew them to create a class exhibition.

 “We visited the Museum of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile and learnt about why the city has a World Heritage Site, explored artefacts in the museum and shared what we had discovered.

 “We visited the Site twice walking around the cobbled streets and narrow closes in and around the Royal Mile. The children looked carefully at the old buildings, monuments and skylines as well as all the nature we found in the historic area. We visited the Canongate Kirk, and I encouraged the children to imagine what the people who lived there long ago were like.

 “The pupils then made sketches and used water colours to create paintings of their favourite scenes, buildings and objects to use as reference material for the final piece they will put together back in the classroom.”

 Cllr Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said: “This project is both creative and educational as it allows pupils from a different area of the city to use art to help bring to life different aspects of the World Heritage Site such as the buildings and skylines that they find inspirational.

“It’s wonderful to see the work they have produced and I’m very much looking forward to the final exhibition in the Museum of Edinburgh later this year. It’s important that we teach children the value of preserving our World Heritage Site for future generations to come.

“I’m hoping this class of primary four pupils will remember the project in years to come holding onto what they’ve learned about what’s special about the history of their city and will pass this on.”

Photography enthusiasts are also being encouraged to enter a competition to celebrate the 30 years milestone running until October

Entries will be grouped into twelve categories, each celebrating a particular value of Scotland’s capital city. The winning photograph in each category will become part of a year-long calendar, which will be sold on Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money for the Trust.

The over-all winner will take pride of place on the front cover of the calendar and will receive a one-year membership for Historic Scotland, who run top-rated visitor attractions all over the country.

Increasing diversity: School Volunteering Opportunities

APPLY BEFORE 28th JUNE

Interested in working in education?

ELREC are working on a school volunteering scheme together with the City of Edinburgh to increase diversity in the Education workforce. Volunteers will join a placement school and will receive guidance and support from their mentor in order to get the most out of the experience.

So, if you want become a parent helper, see how schools work and build out your CV to apply for education jobs, apply for this opportunity here:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx…

For any queries or to find out more, reach out to The City of Edinburgh Council