Tag: public realm

Drylaw Shopping Centre improvements to begin next month

The Council is taking forward improvements to the public realm around Drylaw shopping centre on Ferry Road and Easter Drylaw Place.

The improvements would make the area safer and more accessible for pedestrians.

AtkinsRéalis has prepared designs for improvements to the public realm. These include

  • widening pavements to create more pedestrian space
  • creating informal crossings for pedestrians to use
  • improving parking arrangements
  • replacement of the steps onto Ferry Road
  • adding new green space

The improvements are to the public realm only. They will not involve the shopping centre itself, which is not owned or maintained by the Council.

On 13 May 2025, the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee agreed to allocate £168,102 towards the improvements. Detailed designs have been prepared by AtkinsRéalis and were consulted upon in September to October 2025. A stage 2 road safety audit has been prepared by AtkinsRéalis. 

Drylaw_shopping_centre_public_realm___detailed_designsDownload

In March 2026, the Council appointed Luddon Construction to carry out the works.

Works are scheduled to begin on Tuesday 5 May 2026 and complete on Wednesday 24 June 2026 (these dates may require to change).

Download the programme

To allow the works to be carried out safely, it will be necessary to temporarily close roads and restrict parking. In summary:

  • during the first phase (indicatively, Tuesday 5 May 2026 to Tuesday 26 May 2026), parking in the eastern area of the space to the north of the shopping centre will be restricted. The bus stop outside the shopping centre will be closed and a new temporary bus stop created to the west, outside the police station. The westbound lane of Ferry Road will be closed outside the shopping centre. The northern entrance to the shopping centre will be closed to vehicles, so vehicles accesssing the car park will need to take a short detour down Easter Drylaw View and along Easter Drylaw Place.
  • during the second phase (indicatively, Thursday 28 May 2026 to Thursday 18 June 2026), parking in the western area of the space to the north of the shopping centre will be restricted. The bus stop outside the shopping centre will be closed and a new temporary bus stop created to the west, outside the police station. The westbound lane of Ferry Road will be closed for a section outside the western end of the shopping centre.
  • during the third and final phase (indicatively, Thursday 18 June 2026 to Wednesday 24 June 2026), parking in the bays to the southeast of the shopping centre, on Easter Drylaw Place, will be restricted.

Pedestrian access to the shops will not be obstructed. Signs will be displayed to let people know that the shopping centre is open as usual. Deliveries to the rear of the shopping centre will not be affected.

Drylaw_Shopping_Centre_public_realm_improvements___ProgrammeDownload

Arboretum Place Public Realm and Streetscape Proposals

Community Pop Up Event Saturday 7th March

I am pleased to be getting in touch to inform you about a Community Pop Up event regarding improvements to Arboretum Place and the area in front of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Inverleith Park. 

With thanks to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, we welcome you to join us to see the proposals on Saturday 7th March from 10:30 –  2:00 pm on the Ground Floor of the John Hope Visitor Centre, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Arboretum Place, EH3 5NZ.  The venue is fully accessible.

Stop by to hear more about the project, see the proposals, meet the design team and share your feedback.

We are working with the City of Edinburgh Council to develop concept designs for improvements to the site, looking at the introduction of sustainable drainage measures along the length of Arboretum Place and around the entrances to Inverleith Park and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, including placemaking opportunities between the two.  

This work forms part of Climate Ready Craigleith looking at flood management interventions and improvements across the catchment and sits under the cities overarching Climate Ready Edinburgh strategy.