‘AMBITIOUSLY PRAGMATIC’?
Councillors at yesterday’s Planning Committee have voted in favour of an ‘ambitious pragmatic’ option for the development of Princes Street and Waverley Valley.
Plans incorporate a range of enhancements to Princes Street, the Gardens and surrounding area, including:
Improved accessibility
- Widened pavement by 1.5m at the southern footway of Princes Street, with new high-quality stone pavement installed – reducing congestion for those walking and wheeling
- Improved accessibility for Princes Street Gardens with new ramps or potentially lifts installed
- Upgrade and refurbishment work to the Ross Bandstand and amphitheatre – making it more accessible to meet the needs of audiences and performers
New features and facilities
- Shelters in Princes Street gardens repurposed for use as small cafes and potential community use
- New or improved public toilets and drinking fountains installed
- Princes Street Gardens extended opening hours, with new lighting to highlight the cityscape
- New landscaping to include public seating and rest points
Transport efficiency
- A new cycle hub at Waverley Station with safe cycle access and improved cycle parking along Princes Street
- Narrowing of the carriageway at the south side to make more space for walking and wheeling, maintaining it as two lanes in each travel direction for bus and tram services
- Potential introduction of a new bus gate at the east end of Princes Street as part of measures to reduce congestion and delay along the thoroughfare
The design approach is based on the outcome of discussions at a workshop in June where Councillors, officers and representatives from partner organisations including Historic Environment Scotland, Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Essential Edinburgh, Network Rail and Edinburgh Access Panel, among others, met to hear proposals and share feedback.
Individual project plans including designs and costs for the works will be taken forward at Transport and Environment, and Finance and Resources committees.
The option being taken forward is aligned with current approved Council strategies and plans, supporting delivery of adjoining projects and the existing transport network.
It was also agreed that a revised Princes Street and Waverley Strategy will come back to Committee in early 2027.
Planning Convener, Cllr Joan Griffiths, said: “Princes Street is already going through considerable change and improvement, attracting millions pounds of new investment – but we know there’s still more to be done.
“The way forward we’ve agreed today is a positive step forward – and my thanks to officers for their hard work in getting us to this point. This is a sensible and pragmatic approach that takes on board much of what we heard during the public consultation, particularly around improving accessibility.
“Crucially, this differs from previous plans in that it is affordable and deliverable, and we have the resources to take forward these improvements immediately.
“I have no doubt these changes will improve how residents and visitors experience Princes Street and the Gardens and look forward to seeing these plans develop further in the future.”