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Current population trends indicate the Capital could become the country’s biggest city in the next quarter of a century – bigger than the City of Glasgow council area – placing additional pressure on housing and transport services.
For Mr Kerr, ambition and vision will be as important as money in the drive to ensure Edinburgh can cope with future demand.
“Edinburgh has to start thinking of itself as a global city and how it can be competitive in Europe,” he says. “In a short space of time – 20, 25 years – we will be the biggest city in Scotland. We need to start preparing for Edinburgh being that size of city – not half a million, but three-quarters of a million. That’s preparation in terms of infrastructure, housing, all those things that make a successful city.
“Given that Edinburgh is the only growing part of the Scottish economy, it is the sensible thing for both the Scottish and UK governments to invest in Edinburgh – that’s the case we’re making for why the deal should be as large as £2bn.”
He adds: “We’re still opening up the city in terms of transport infrastructure, both west and east. And the City Deal is still about innovation through the universities and the very big strengths we have there.”
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http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/capital-chief-exec-edinburgh-has-to-think-of-itself-as-a-global-city-1-4194869