Tag: planning

Good news for Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden

Hi friends and supporters,
FG logo circular
The action group has been busy over June and July meeting with and lobbying many politicians for support. We have had some good news. After two years of campaigning to have the walled garden protected we received the news we have been waiting for – the Local Development plan has been thoroughly examined and a decision issued by national planners that it should be kept as Openspace!
So what now?
  • Making the garden accessible for the first time in over ten years.
Our group has been invited to take part in the new ‘Masterplan’ creation for Granton’s Waterfront and we hope that architects will help to make the garden accessible in the future: enabling community members to begin its restoration and return it to productivity.
Three of us will be attending the developer’s architects meeting in August on behalf of the group.
Openspace designation in the Local Development Plan may not necessarily deter the developers from submitting new planning applications to build in the B-listed garden, but we hope that common sense will prevail and a council owned company will not go against the council’s approved plans and abide by national planning policies and guidelines.
Alternatives to housing in the garden?
Our real work begins now, following the overwhelmingly positive response to a survey of Friends Group ideas for the garden we are now looking at ways to fund these dreams.
We have been invited to present our ideas to the board of Waterfront Edinburgh Limited and hope to reach an agreement with the company that respects local opinion and planning guidelines for best land use.  We intend to get across the idea that this late medieval walled garden, the oldest built structure in Granton, is precious to all as a unique, fertile & unpolluted historic garden.
Petitioning the council to have the garden protected properly for posterity
4th August meeting with Andy Wightman
Earlier this week Group members met with MSP Andy Wightman (above) and were glad of helpful advice and support shown for our ideas. Our petition is open until the 25th August and must gain 500 signatures for us to be heard. Please sign and share:
Many opportunities have now arisen to raise awareness of the garden and involve a wider audience in the future. The possibility of funding to build a new low impact access to re-open the garden this winter if the company can be persuaded of the value of the garden to local people and visitors.
Best wishes,
Kirsty Sutherland
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Planning and Design: It’s YOUR community

Communities to have their say in the design of their area

MuirhouseShops

Communities across Scotland will have the chance to map out the future of their towns with design experts. The Scottish Government is launching two funds to allow people to have a direct role in making their towns and villages better places to live.

Funding of £300,000 is available across two grant schemes – the Design Charrettes programme and the Activating Ideas Fund.

Charrettes bring together the public, stakeholders and designers over a number of days to draw up viable proposals, while the Activating Ideas fund will support participation and empowerment initiatives in disadvantaged areas.

Minister for Local Government Kevin Stewart said: “The quality of our places has an important influence on our lives. This Government is committed to empowering communities and involving them in the planning process.

“We have already seen really good examples of this in the few years since the charrettes programme has been running. In Maybole the Community Association and Community Council sourced additional funding to modernise and improve access to the Town Hall gardens. And in Girvan there is a successful plan for a new swimming facility which is due to open in 2017 following the closure of the local pool.

“Local communities have a wealth of knowledge about their local area. Bringing communities together with design expertise will enable ideas and proposals to be developed to deliver positive change. This initiative provides a way of enabling people across Scotland to have their say on the long- term future of their community.”

Continue reading Planning and Design: It’s YOUR community

Greens criticise green light for green belt development

‘This scheme would unnecessarily chew up yet more of our precious greenbelt when we should be protecting it’ – Alison Johnstone MSP.

garden district

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, has urged Edinburgh city council to reject proposals for 1,320 homes on greenbelt land between the City Bypass and Gogar Station Road on the western outskirts of the city Continue reading Greens criticise green light for green belt development

Tenants group ‘removes objection’ to St Paul’s housing plans

Tenants & Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM) will not oppose students housing development on the site of St Paul’s RC Church on Muirhouse Avenue, writes JAMES McGINTY Continue reading Tenants group ‘removes objection’ to St Paul’s housing plans

Public meeting to discuss St Paul’s housing

TRIM has organised a public meeting to discuss the proposed housing development on St Paul’s site on Muirhouse Avenue

St Paul's

As many will be aware TRIM is against the proposed development of Student accommodation at the old St Paul’s Church. TRIM Board has agreed to meet with the developer and architect.

This meeting will be

On Tuesday the 9th February
At 7pm
Within Muirhouse Millennium Centre

Please share this with anyone you feel may wish to attend and we look forward to see you on Tuesday

  • No need to submit apologies if you can’t attend, this is for your information and not an invite as such as this is an open meeting

Please note this meeting is instead of our normal TRIM meeting

Student flat planned development at St Paul

 

Website – http://muirhouseresidents.co.uk
Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/trimgroup
New “TRIM Freebies Group” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/TRIMFREEBIE/
Also on Twitter – http://twitter.com/MuirhouseTRIM

Save Canonmills hopes smashed by Reporter’s wrecking ball

Canonmills campaigners ‘devastated’ by reporter’s decision – but the fight goes on

Canonmills Bridge

The Scottish Government’s Environment and Appeals Division has found in favour of an appeal to demolish buildings on Canonmills Bridge. The decision to allow the appeal overturns a decision made by city ouncillors last summer and paves the way for a controversial new development which protesters says will dwarf surrounding buildings in the popular conservation area (writes Dave Pickering).

Edinburgh North & Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm called the decision ‘unbelievable’.

The traditional single-storey building by Canonmills Bridge has become a popular social hub and campaigners argued that it’s demolition and the subsequent redevelopment would ‘destroy the harmonious character of the area’. They maintain that the proposed new building clearly would not preserve or enhance the conservation area – a key planning consideration.

The Save Canonmills Bridge campaigners fought an energetic campaign against the demolition last year, and their hard work was rewarded in August when the single-storey building at the centre of the planning application was granted a reprieve by the city’s planning committee.

However developers Glovart Holdings Ltd launched an appeal against the decision in November, and today the Save Canonmills Bridge team received the news they had been dreading: that Glovart’s appeal had been upheld – and that the demolition will go ahead.

It’s a bitter blow for the campaigners who worked so hard – and a kick in teeth for the thousands who signed petitions and supported the battle. However campaign leader Jan Anderson, who launched an online petition which attracted nearly 5000 signatures, vows that the fight will go on.

She said: “The Reporter has concurred with the owners and developers, rather than the unanimous planning committee and 7,000+ signatories we gathered – demolition of 1-6 Canonmills Bridge has been approved.

“The Reporter states: ‘the demolition of the building would comply with the development plan.’ It is ‘atypical‘ and ‘peripheral to the conservation area.’ Demolition is approved subject to conditions.’ This ain’t over yet.”

The reporter’s decision is final, but Save Canonmills Bridge campaigners may have one last throw of the dice. They could choose to petition the Court of Session – but their appeal would have to be made on a point of law. The group has six weeks to make that decision.

Edinburgh North and Leith MP Dierdre Brock said: “This is a very disappointing decision. The fantastic local campaign to save 1-6 Canonmills Bridge demonstrated the strength of feeling against demolition.

“The planned development is an inappropriate size for the site, and will close down the sense of space in this central hub area of Canonmills.

“It’s very sad that a building with such character will be bulldozed for a bland housing block. I’ll continue to support the campaign as they consider whether there are any further avenues to halt this decision.”