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Post Powderhall (coming soon??)

(287 posts)

  1. chdot
    Admin

    Council proposals for new housing on the former Powderhall waste-transfer site at 165 Broughton Rd have temporarily stalled.

    Two key applications have been withdrawn.

    https://broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/powderhall-plans-delayed

    Unknown if it will have any effect on ‘plans’ for the path to Meadowbank.

    Posted 1 year ago #
  2. chdot
    Admin

    Some projects were listed as ‘on hold’ with no completion date, such as active travel works on the Powderhall Railway in Broughton.

    https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/04/concerns-raised-about-projects-designed-to-improve-walking-and-cycling-routes/

    Posted 1 year ago #
  3. chdot
    Admin

    They are creating another studio and hub at Powderhall Stables as part of the mixed-use redevelopment on the former council waste site.

    https://www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk/p/turning-a-city-lighthouse-into-a?

    Posted 1 month ago #
  4. chdot
    Admin

    Powderhall / Leith Walk / Easter Road / Meadowbank path negotiations continue between Edinburgh Council & Network Rail Scotland, & assessments have taken place on the bridges down the route.

    However we're a whiles until any spade can hit the ground. The funding picture was answered back in Feb too.

    https://bsky.app/profile/jackrmcaldwell.bsky.social/post/3mjhtenlkp224

    Click link for more details

    Posted 1 month ago #
  5. chdot
    Admin

    We will also support efforts to bring the former Powderhall railway line into use as a new walking and cycling route in the capital.

    P66 SNP Manifesto

    https://issuu.com/hinksbrandwise/docs/snp_manifesto_the_scottish_parliament_election_2/5?ff

    Posted 1 month ago #
  6. neddie
    Member

    They're already in power! So why didn't they start this 10 years ago, when this thread started?

    Posted 1 month ago #
  7. chdot
    Admin

    Good Q

    I think over that time there have been various people punting the idea including Cllrs (various parties).

    Enough to get CEC to do some work.

    Being in the Manifesto is obviously important as SG has two roles - (potential) funding source and also owner of Scotland’s Railway.

    Worth contacting relevant MSPs after election.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  8. Arellcat
    Moderator

    why didn't they start this 10 years ago, when this thread started?

    If you asked for a straight answer then they could say that, as far as they could see, looking at it by and large, taking one thing with another, in terms of the average of other travel projects, then in the final analysis it is probably true to say that at the end of the day, in general terms, they would probably find that not to put too fine a point on it, there probably wasn't very much for it one way or the other then, as now, as far as they could see at this stage.

    Posted 1 month ago #
  9. neddie
    Member

    "...but, but, the A9..."

    Posted 1 month ago #
  10. chdot
    Admin

    Just been skimming through this whole thread.

    I’d forgotten the level of ‘behind the scenes’ work/lobbying done by many people (some CCEers some not).

    I’d also completely forgotten the level of optimism about some action being possible/probable 7/8 YEARS AGO.

    Being in the SNP Manifesto ought to be significant??

    Found this -

    Some good news regarding the Powderhall Railway Path. CEC have secured Sustrans funding for a feasibility study to look into developing the disused railway solum into an active travel corridor.

    The funding comes from the Sustrans Places For Everyone programme. The council will appoint a consultant to undertake the feasibility study and we understand a stakeholder workshop will follow during the earliest stages of project development, which will hopefully be in the near future.

    More updates will appear here as and when further information is available.

    https://powderhallpath.wordpress.com/2019/10/11/sustrans-fund-powderhall-railway-path-feasibility-study/

    Posted October 11, 2019

    Anyone know anything more?

    Posted 3 weeks ago #
  11. chdot
    Admin

  12. Arellcat
    Moderator

    For comparison, this is the linear park now that is the ex-railway Castlefield viaduct:

    and there is plenty of scope to extend it further towards Pomona:

    Manchester of course also has a highly functional and well constructed tram network using former heavy rail routes and on-street running.

    Posted 3 weeks ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

  14. chdot
    Admin

  15. chdot
    Admin

    Only just caught up with this

    LOTS of interesting content (and pages of box ticking tedium)

    Jacobs

    Feasibility Study

    Powderhall Railway Path

    https://edinburgh.axlr8.uk/documents/47593/Powderhall%20Stage%201%20-%20Rev%202%20-%20Final%20R.pdf

    Posted 1 week ago #
  16. chdot
    Admin

    Previous stuff

    02/2017

    The Powderhall railway branch line from Piershill is only used by refuse trains, so permanent closure of the plant leaves the track bed available for conversion to a multi-use/cycle path, subject to negotiations between CEC and Network Rail (NR). For cyclists and walkers this raises the exciting prospect of a traffic-free link south-eastwards from the extensive North Edinburgh path network. From Warriston allotments the new route, with intermediate access points, would go under Broughton Road, Leith Walk and Easter Road to Lochend Park. From there it’s only a short distance to the semi-tropical delights of Holyrood Park and beyond. The future of the Lochend–Piershill section of the line is unclear. A huge new development is planned for the eastern part of the Meadowbank site and, ideally, the new path would connect there. Although NR seems currently to favour retaining the option of a future Abbeyhill–Piershill loop line, this does not necessarily exclude a path link as well.—Tim Smith

    https://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/sites/default/files/backissues/Spurtle%20259%20Final.pdf

    12/2017

    Cllr Susan Rae (Leith Walk) has received confirmation that the former Powderhall railway line remains safeguarded as a cycleway footpath in the Edinburgh Local Development Plan, and is a proposed QuietRoute within CEC’s 2016 Active Travel Plan. Proposals will be brought forward alongside development of the sites at Powderhall and Meadowbank, and Planning Convener Lesley Macinnes is already seeking talks with Network Rail.

    https://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/sites/default/files/backissues/Spurtle%20269%20Draft%202%20Hi%20Res.pdf

    SLOW PROGRESS ON POWDERHALL RAILWAY PATH
    Submitted by Editor on Thu, 06/12/2018 - 11:32

    The Powderhall Railway Path Working Group met Leith Central Community Council’s Vice Chair and CEC officials from Active Travel and Housing yesterday.

    PRPWG comprises local residents keen to create a useful new East–West footway/cycle route on redundant track between Powderhall and Meadowbank. The meeting was to discuss next steps.

    The line is owned by Network Rail, and DB Cargo UK has a contract to operate freight services on it until 2019, even though Powderhall has closed as a waste transfer station.

    At yesterday’s meeting, officials agreed to undertake a scoping study. This will examine issues around surveying the route, land ownership, and the DB Cargo contract.

    PRPWG hopes to get Network Rail to agree in principle to parting with the line. With such an agreement in place, an approach could then be made to Sustrans for funding a feasibility study.

    Progress is slow, and obstacles ahead include: Network Rail’s potential wish to run trains on the Abbeyhill Loop; concerns on all sides not to get lumbered with very expensive repairs to bridges and embankments; unresolved questions about access and ownership along parts of the proposed route and at the far end of St Mark’s Park.

    Interested parties will meet again in February, before officials report to the Council’s North East Localities Committee in March.

    https://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/slow-progress-powderhall-railway-path

    Posted 1 week ago #
  17. chdot
    Admin

    “Green infrastructure in cities matters. Finding space for it is rare. And battling through the treacle to make projects like this happen is difficult, lengthy, and expensive. Which is why today’s announcement is so painful to make.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/13/londons-answer-to-new-yorks-high-line-camden-scrapped

    Posted 3 days ago #

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