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"Pressure on green belt as 10,000 homes to be built"

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  1. ejstubbs
    Member

    @chdot: New greenfield housing developments are locking residents into car dependency, making everyday journeys impossible without a vehicle, a new report has found. Meanwhile, pledges for walking, cycling and public transport are often left unfulfilled.

    IIRC the new planning regime as introduced by David Cameron directed that local authorities should operate on a presumption in favour of sustainable housing developments. A development which residents can only access by car, with no realistic active travel or public transport options is, I would argue, ipso facto not sustainable. Though again IIRC the guidance/regulation in question did not bother to go in to any detail as to what was meant by "sustainable" in that particular context, so sticking a few solar panels on roofs would seem quite likely to be sufficient to allow the relevant box to be ticked...

    Posted 2 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    “so sticking a few solar panels on roofs would seem quite likely to be sufficient to allow the relevant box to be ticked”

    And now, probably, an electric car charging point with every house(?)

    Posted 2 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Where once there were fields, thousands of houses are now springing up. The equivalent of an entire new town has been built in the south-east of the city, with more to come.

    Virtually all greenbelt land up to the bypass has either now been developed, is being developed, or is the subject of proposals.

    A lot of the planning permissions were issued years ago on appeal by the Scottish government, which frequently over-rules the council planning committee to permit developments.

    “

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/as-edinburgh-grows-big-developers-need-to-listen-to-local-people-ian-murray-3571551

    Posted 2 years ago #

  4. neddie
    Member

    Most of these developments are car-dependent. Yet Ian Murray has nothing to say about providing active travel & public transport links and discouraging car use?

    Posted 2 years ago #

  5. jonty
    Member

    What Ian Murray is saying is that there is an Issue, which requires Action. He's listening to your concerns about the Issue and almost certainly agrees with whatever you think about the Issue. If you vote for his party in the council elections they will look at the Issue and take Action on it and make things Better.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  6. ejstubbs
    Member

    He does say:

    But we can’t simply build vast housing estates with little or no thought to the facilities and infrastructure required to sustain healthy communities.

    This is a problem for both existing and new residents.

    Roads are now incredibly congested – as anyone who has tried driving or travelling by bus along any of the main routes will now tell you.

    Which, while not specifically about discouraging car use, does seem to recognise the problem of inadequate transport options.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Residents in Colinton Mains are being asked for their views on plans to build new homes on the site of a former bowling green.

    “

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/council/residents-to-be-asked-on-new-council-homes-3576160

    Posted 2 years ago #

  8. chdot
    Admin

    Not green belt and instead of houses -

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/business/10-bold-and-controversial-edinburgh-hotels-set-to-be-built-in-the-coming-years-3263416

    Posted 2 years ago #

  9. jonty
    Member

    > Residents in Colinton Mains are being asked for their views on plans to build new homes on the site of a former bowling green.

    If it was appropriately permeable through to the existing green space this seems like a fairly appropriate place to put housing?

    Posted 2 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Persimmon Homes have defended their decision not to attend a public drop-in event to discuss the controversial Cupar North planning application.

    Almost 400 people turned up to look at the plans, which will increase the size of Cupar by 30%.

    “

    https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/2994054/cupar-north-plan/

    Posted 2 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Leslie: 220 people sign petition against major affordable housing application

    “

    https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/3059172/leslie-housing/

    Posted 2 years ago #

  12. chdot
    Admin

    “

    The average Edinburgh house price is almost 7 times the average gross annual earnings in the city, making it the least affordable city in Scotland to buy a home. This leaves many residents trapped in a private rental market that is out of control. The average advertised monthly private rent in Edinburgh was over £1,100 in the second quarter of 2021. A recent study showed the average private rent for a one bed property in Lothian has risen by over 40% in the past decade – the Edinburgh-specific figure is not available but is certain to be higher. Many Edinburgh residents have seen their rent double during a decade of unprecedented wage The average Edinburgh house price is almost 7 times the average gross annual earnings in the city, making it the least affordable city in Scotland to buy a home. This leaves many residents trapped in a private rental market that is out of control. The average advertised monthly private rent in Edinburgh was over £1,100 in the second quarter of 2021. A recent study showed the average private rent for a one bed property in Lothian has risen by over 40% in the past decade – the Edinburgh-specific figure is not available but is certain to be higher. Many Edinburgh residents have seen their rent double during a decade of unprecedented wage stagnation. stagnation.

    “

    https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2022/02/labour-candidate-says-all-levels-of-government-must-recognise-the-real-housing-crisis-in-the-capital/

    Posted 2 years ago #

  13. Dave
    Member

    Our old flat is renting for maybe 10% over what it would have fetched when we were there ten years ago. Should be up a third? Hmm.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  14. toomanybikes
    Member

    The average Edinburgh house price is almost 7 times the average gross annual earnings in the city, making it the least affordable city in Scotland to buy a home.

    Not suggesting that house prices are too low, but is price to gross earnings the correct measure?

    if you assume the cost of living is fixed at ~£1k per month before housing and then just look at £(net post tax income)-£1k, surely that closes the gap across Scotland somewhat.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Developer Osborne+Co and build-to-rent operator Moda Living have together acquired the 15.5-acre Saica factory site located next to the Edinburgh Gateway rail and tram interchange to the west of the city.

    Their masterplan would deliver a “vibrant range of new homes”, including “substantial” affordable housing provision, workspaces and community amenities, as well as a “sustainable neighbourhood public realm” and access to a new transport hub.

    “

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/business/west-edinburgh-transformation-of-vast-factory-site-in-the-west-of-the-capital-will-create-more-than-1000-homes-3644040

    Posted 2 years ago #

  16. chdot
    Admin

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/business/project-to-create-900-plus-homes-on-edinburghs-waterfront-takes-significant-step-forward-3668654

    Posted 2 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/business/work-finally-begins-on-vast-housing-project-to-bring-almost-1000-homes-to-edinburgh-commuter-town-3673972

    Posted 2 years ago #

  18. Yodhrin
    Member

    I wonder - given how much the council(rightly enough) love building on brownfield sites, what about the now almost entirely useless A9000 spur between the M90 & the bridge? Put in a single lane/"smart" layby each-way dual carriageway along one edge for access to the bridge for transit and on the rare occasions traffic gets diverted, keep the verge wide enough to take tram lines if that ever becomes a thing, and you'd free up 3 or 4 hectares to sell to developers, or turn into a lovely big park. Not to mention future maintenance you'd be able to skip performing.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Plans for 350 Edinburgh homes refused as residents would be too 'car dependant'

    A reporter for the Scottish Government shared the council's opinion the development would 'increase the use of the private car' and challenged claims that bus services would be extended to serve the estate's residents.

    “

    https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/plans-350-edinburgh-homes-refused-23953403?

    Posted 2 years ago #

  20. Arellcat
    Moderator

    "pedestrian network" would "maximise connections within and outwith the development"

    FGS. A pedestrian network? In my day, when two streets over was literally all fields, we used to call them pavements.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  21. ejstubbs
    Member

    @chdot: Plans for 350 Edinburgh homes refused as residents would be too 'car dependant'

    Welcome - but ironic, really, given how much development has already been permitted north of the A7 with next to no (if any) enhancement to public transport services to encourage the lucky residents to leave their cars at home. I note that the development refused permission is immediately adjacent to Cala's latest contribution to Balerno's urban sprawl, off Ravelrig Road.

    Did someone perhaps blithely imagine that all the drivers in the new development would use Long Dalmahoy Road instead of the A70? If so then I can only assume that they've not ridden or driven that way themselves recently: it's quite a narrow road and fairly badly potholed at the moment, far from suitable for any more traffic than it currently carries IMO - especially since it, and Ravelrig Road, seem recently to have become a rat run for some seriously huge lorries*.

    Botom line: if the Reporter decided that Balerno really doesn't need any more car commuters than it already has then maybe some sanity is starting to prevail.

    * I met such a lorry the other day when heading up towards Balerno from Long Dalmahoy Road: it was occupying so much of the road that I had to seek sanctuary more or less within the hedge. And somewhat to my discomfort I discovered that whoever is responsible for trimming that hedge had left the cut ends of some fairly hefty and more or less unbending branches flush with the rest of the more flexible foliage, which was rather an unwelcome surprise.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  22. chdot
    Admin

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/business/edinburgh-real-estate-team-announce-ps100m-plan-for-200-homes-and-green-offices-at-old-scottish-widows-hq-3698962

    Posted 2 years ago #

  23. chdot
    Admin

    https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2022/jun/05/hands-off-our-park-shrewsbury-takes-its-council-to-the-supreme-court

    Posted 2 years ago #

  24. chdot
    Admin

    “

    "Over the first weekend, the building suffered from unforeseen and sustained vandalism attacks with the police and council security called out several times. Security was immediately enhanced, but due to the size of the building and the location next to the green belt, the effectiveness was continually compromised.

    “

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/council/edinburghs-former-castlebrae-high-school-to-be-demolished-after-vandal-attacks-3729504

    Posted 2 years ago #

  25. chdot
    Admin

    “

    COMING SOON

    Cruden Homes is progressing a major planning application at Fountainbridge. The project is a landmark regeneration of a major brownfield former brewery site, which is uniquely positioned on the Union Canal in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh.

    “

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17102&page=12&replies=359#post-361662

    Posted 2 years ago #

  26. chdot
    Admin

    “

    David Milton, Development Manager at Hillcrest Homes said, “Stead’s Place provides the opportunity to deliver 23 new social-rented homes and 15 mid-rented homes, all of which will be allocated to those in housing need. The Social Rented homes will deliver a good mix of one, two and three bed apartments and we are particularly pleased to be delivering family sized homes in this location."

    He added: "There is a continuing unmet demand for affordable homes across Edinburgh and this development will help meet this demand and provide high quality, energy efficient new homes to those who need them the most.”

    “

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/stead-place-work-starts-on-new-development-near-leith-walk-3757031

    Posted 2 years ago #

  27. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Stirling Developments are building the Calderwood Core Development Area in East Calder, and Kirknewton – just over two miles south – is the nearest railway station. Four attempts have already been made to produce viable park and ride plans, but all have either been rejected by councillors or failed to make it off the drawing board.

    The latest plan – much reduced from earlier proposals to only 50 spaces- foundered earlier this year because no safe pathway could be made connecting the station to the car park site in what is an open field a few hundred yards away.

    “

    https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2022/07/park-and-ride-at-kirknewton-railway-station-to-be-appealed/?amp

    Posted 2 years ago #

  28. MediumDave
    Member

    It would be useful if the journalist had included the plans in that article so the reader could understand what they were havering about...

    Certainly seems plenty of scope to widen/realign Station Road to the north of the railway line to allow for more pavements.

    https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=16/55.8870/-3.4363

    I Noted the other day that the wee cottage alone in the field next to the station is now being done up.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  29. chdot
    Admin

    “

    Midlothian and East Lothian saw the biggest population increases, of 1.6 per cent each.

    “

    https://www.scotsman.com/news/national/covid-reverses-long-term-population-trend-as-rural-areas-benefit-at-expense-of-scotlands-cities-3767453

    Posted 2 years ago #

  30. ejstubbs
    Member

    @MediumDave: Certainly seems plenty of scope to widen/realign Station Road to the north of the railway line to allow for more pavements.

    I wonder whether part of the problem in this case might be providing a safe way for pedestrians to cross the railway. AFAICS there's no footbridge at Kirknewton, and putting one in would be complicated/made more costly by the fact that the line is overhead electrified. Network Rail is increasingly paranoid about level crossings - not unjustifiably so, given the number of instances of abuse and plain stupidity by road users that they record every year, with pedestrians featuring just as much as vehicular traffic if not more so*. I can imagine that they would not be keen on a plan that would substantially increase the number of pedestrians using the crossing, especially during peak periods which is when people are more likely to feel harassed/in a hurry and make poor decisions.

    * Pedestrians (and to a lesser degree cyclists) can and do wriggle round/under/through barriers and gates, where present, much more easily than motor vehicles, and NR tends to get the blame in such cases.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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