I attended the Local development Plan (LDP) meeting in October 2017 at the City Chambers with representatives from other community councils. Details of this plan which is having and will continue to have an effect on Southside can be found here. David Lesley Head of LDP 5 year review and 10 year plan chaired the meeting.
The first LDP, LDP1, was adopted in 2016 with the priority on brown field housing development. LDP1 is amended through supplementary guidance. This is updated annually. Planning is now underway for LDP2. Consultations on this happen during 2018 with a view to having the new plan adopted in 2020. There is also the South East Scotland Development Plan 2 (SDP 2) and the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City deal that feeds into the activities of the region.
The notes I have promote the development of Gilmerton and Liberton in particular with the emphasis on active travel. Two new parks are to be created at Broomieknowe (I think) and Little France. There is close working with the NHS who have made some contribution to Meadows Health, but no contribution to deal with expected demand for doctors’ surgeries. The timing here is difficult, knowing when surgeries and primary schools should be built and what the demand is. There will be additional housing at Sick Kids hospital site when it closes and moves to Little France. There is an annual housing audit and identifying the implications of population movement.
The CC is expected to spread awareness of the LDP and engage with the LDP action programme and hence contribution to LDP2. Other CCs have many more demanding issues, for example with 20,000 new houses coming to Gilmerton and Inch and hence dozens of housing applications. CCs should raise awareness of the impact of new build in their communities, particularly younger people.
A further report is due January 2018 with consultations going on until Autumn 2018. The most up to date supplementary guidance that gives an interesting analysis of the town centre is available here.
Feb 2018