Chapter 2: Context and Strategy

Context

The Council's Vision

2.1 The Council's core aims and values are set out in the City Strategy and the City Plan. The aims are to increase prosperity, reduce poverty, promote social justice and inclusion and deliver a healthy and sustainable enviroment. These goals will be achieved by working with partners and stakeholders and by involving communities.

National Context

2.2 Government gives policy direction, guidance and advice to planning authorities through legislation, Circulars, the new Scottish Planning Policies (SPPs) series, National Planning Policy Guidelines (NPPGs) and Planning Advice Notes (PANs). This local plan reflects current policy guidance and best practice advice on the role of the planning system, transport and planning, housing, the historic environment, and business and industry. Their relevant elements are summarised at the start of each topic chapter.

2.3 Some government legislation and guidance implements E.C. Directives, applying European environmental policy to the Scottish context. The general thrust of government planning policy increasingly reflects the importance of promoting sustainable development and transport systems, energy conservation and the protection of wildlife and other natural assets. Another theme in national planning policy is the importance of good design in new buildings. These and other policies are discussed in detail in the relevant topic chapters.

West Edinburgh Planning Framework

2.4 In May 2008, the Scottish Government published a revised West Edinburgh Planning Framework (WEPF 2008) which has the status of Scottish Planning Policy (SPP). It sets out a long term strategic vision for West Edinburgh as an area considered to be nationally important in terms of economic development, global connectivity, transport and the environment. WEPF 2008 concentrates on strategic land use allocations relating to Edinburgh Airport, Scotland’s National Showground and an International Business Gateway.

2.5 WEPF 2008 requires the Council to bring forward this alteration to the Rural West Edinburgh Local Plan and to prepare more detailed planning guidance in the form of a West Edinburgh Strategic Design Framework (WESDF) It also requires the Council, together with other key stakeholders, to undertake an appraisal of potential transport options in West Edinburgh. A West Edinburgh Transport Appraisal (WETA) was undertaken throughout 2009 and involved consultation and participation at key stages. The outcomes of the transport appraisal have informed the finalised version of this Local Plan Alteration.

Regional Context

2.6 This local plan is consistent with the strategic land use planning and transport context set by the Edinburgh and the Lothians Structure Plan 2015 (ELSP). This provides the broad spatial framework for public and private investment in infrastructure and new development for the Edinburgh city-region. The ELSP introduces some significant changes to the pattern of land use and transportation in Rural West Edinburgh. It was approved by Scottish Ministers on 17 June 2004.

2.7 The Structure Plan identifies Newbridge/Kirkliston/Ratho as a strategic housing allocation and this local plan is required to allocate land for 1,000 units in that area. It also establishes that strategic housing developments should not proceed in advance of the necessary infrastructure being provided or committed (Policy HOU 5). Withthe exception of this strategic allocation, the ELSP requires the local plan area to remain an area of development restraint because it is constrained by the Green Belt, landscape, environmental objectives and road capacity.

2.8 The strategic allocation apart, Rural West Edinburgh is not an appropriate location for major new housing, major business or shopping development. Small-scale and infill developments, including those proposed in previous local plans, may be acceptable. More generally, the plan supports the increased self-containment of towns and villages beyond the Green Belt in terms of jobs and population.

2.9 The Structure Plan contains several other provisions specific to Rural West Edinburgh. The Airport, Riccarton Campus and the Royal Highland Showground continue as established green belt uses where expansion in line with masterplans approved by the Council will be supported.

2.10 The emergence of the Newbridge area as a major business location is recognised and this local plan is required to support this changing emphasis. The local plan also has to safeguard land for several transport schemes, including a City Centre-Edinburgh Park-Newbridge tram, an Edinburgh airport rail station, park & ride sites and the line of the new A8000 road improvement scheme.

Edinburgh Green Belt Boundary Study 1999

2.11 The Lothian Structure Plan 1994 required the four Lothian Councils to jointly prepare a green belt boundary study to assess the defensibility of existing green belt boundaries and make recommendations on how they could be strengthened. The joint study was carried out and agreed by the four authorities following extensive public consultation. Its recommended boundary was incorporated in the Finalised Local Plan 1999 and is carried forward into this version, which is shown on the Proposals Map, as modified, to accommodate the Newbridge/ Kirkliston/ Ratho strategic housing allocation.

The Plan Area

2.12 Rural West Edinburgh is characterised by open countryside containing the towns and villages of Balerno, Currie, Dalmeny, Kirkliston, Newbridge, Queensferry, Ratho and Ratho Station. The open land is mostly productive farmland and much of it is protected by green belt or countryside policies. Landscapes are varied, ranging from the heather moorland of the Pentland Hills, to the designed parklands of Dalmeny and Cammo.

2.13 Rural West Edinburgh has experienced growth at various times over the last thirty years, firstly as part of West Lothian and Midlothian Counties, and then as part of the former Edinburgh District Council's area. Its location between the city and motorway network made it particularly attractive for new commercial investment. While this limited growth over the years has led to more people living and working in the area, pressure for inappropriate development in the Green Belt has been successfully resisted. The challenge now is to introduce and retain leisure, health and other community facilities in Rural West Edinburgh to help produce more balanced communities.

2.14 Census 2001 results show the plan area's population was 30,716 in 2001, formed into 11,547 households. 82% of houses were owneroccupied, compared with 69% for the Council's area as a whole. 18.5% of households had no access to a car. Appendix A contains more demographic and socio-economic information.

Changes since Finalised Plan 1999

2.15 There have been several significant changes since the first finalised plan was published in 1999. The main changes result from the two documents referred to above, the Edinburgh and the Lothians Structure Plan 2015, and the Scottish Executive's West Edinburgh Planning Framework.

2.16 Transport proposals for the area have also evolved. A new strategic A8000 road is proposed as is a package of integrated new public transport infrastructure to increase access to the area and, in particular, the A8 corridor from the city edge to the Airport and Newbridge.

2.17 The Council's current policies on the delivery of affordable housing, developers' contributions and on flood protection have been included, as has the transfer of the West Farm area to West Lothian Council.

Neighbouring Areas

2.18 Rural West Edinburgh, although physically different from the mainly urban character of the rest of the Council area, has close links with adjacent areas. People living in the area have traditionally depended on facilities in Edinburgh's city centre and western suburbs to meetwork, shopping and leisure needs. Major developments, for example, at Edinburgh Park, Wester Hailes and The Gyle serve the Rural West Edinburgh area. There are also links with Livingston, for hospital, shopping and leisure facilities.

The Local Plan Strategy: Sustainable Development for Local Needs

Plan Aim

2.19 The aim of this local plan is to implement the strategy of the Edinburgh and the Lothians Structure Plan 2015 which seeks to restrain growth in Rural West Edinburgh and to protect and improve the Green Belt, while providing for Lothian's development needs in more sustainable locations elsewhere.

Summary of the Local Plan Strategy

2.20 Like the Structure Plan, the local plan strategy has the pursuit of sustainable development at its heart. This should help produce a more energy efficient pattern of development, preserve the environment for future generations and improve the overall quality of life, including air quality.

2.21 Within the context of the Structure Plan, and with the exception of the Newbridge/Kirkliston/Ratho strategic housing allocation, the strategy is to restrain major development in Rural West Edinburgh, while seeking to achieve more balanced communities and promoting alternative transport choices.

2.22 The general policy of restraint does not mean a ban on all new development. Special circumstances apply to Edinburgh Airport, the Royal Highland Showground and Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh Campus at Riccarton which are recognised by the Structure Plan as strategically important to Lothian's economy. However, development of these uses must be carefully controlled and should respect their green belt settings.

2.23 In addition, the plan makes provision for development which consolidates existing towns and villages and meets local needs. Improved local facilities and employment opportunities should help achieve more rounded settlements with a greater degree of selfcontainment which, in turn, reduces the need to travel.

2.24 In setting out this local plan strategy, the Council recognises that significant decisions have still to be made on issues like the nature and scale of the of the airport and transport schemes and corridor safeguards. The plan will, therefore, need to be altered to reflect these when the key decisions are made.

2.25 Nine core principles follow from this strategy:

1. Fully integrating land use and transport planning to achieve more sustainable development
2. Protecting the area's natural heritage including its biodiversity and landscape character
3. Promoting social inclusion and balanced communities
4. Protecting and reinforcing the historic urban character of the area's towns and villages
5. Seeking environmentally sustainable forms of new development which use natural resources responsibly and minimise environmental impact
6. Reducing the need to travel for employment, recreation and services by promoting more self-contained and viable communities
7. Recognising the many, often competing, demands on the countryside, particularly the need to protect open countryside to both support agricultural uses and absorb growing recreational pressures
8. Resisting major new housing or business developments not needed to meet defined strategic or local needs
9. Ensuring high standards of design in new development in terms of visual quality, energy efficiency, safety, security and meeting the needs of disadvantaged groups

2.26 The concept of sustainable development is discussed more fully in the Environment chapter. There are many definitions but essentially it means trying to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It involves living off the environment's interest and not its capital, and passing on a better environmental legacy to the future than we ourselves inherited. It is also about thinking globally and acting locally. Energy efficiency,reducing pollution and minimising the use of non-renewable resources like fossil fuels are central tenets. This leads to policies which try to minimise travel demand, encourage renewable energy use and promote non-car alternatives. The pursuit of more selfcontained communities with a balance between jobs, houses, services, facilities and open spaces flows from this approach.

2.27 The integration of land use and transportation planning is central to achieving sustainable development. The local plan builds on the Structure Plan's approach in this area. The role of public transport as a more energy efficient means of movement than the car is a vital element and this plan contains a range of innovative proposals for new public transport infrastructure and the creation of park & ride sites on the city edge to intercept car-borne travellers. Improved rail facilities are also promoted as are traffic management measures. Policies which limit new development to the consolidation of existing settlements also maximise the use of existing public transport systems.

2.28 The local plan area has a rich legacy of historical features reflecting the long human presence in the area. These include many historic buildings and townscapes, existing and former estates, comprising impressive buildings in parkland settings, archaeological sites and ancient monuments. The plan seeks to protect these through conservation area and listed building controls, and a range of other policies. Provision is also made to protect or record archaeological features when new development is planned.

2.29 Green belt and countryside policies seek to prevent inappropriate development but new development of a countryside nature is permitted. The countryside is not static and has a continuing role to meet both agricultural and recreational needs, particularly in this location which is within such easy reach of so many city dwellers. The policies reflect the importance of agriculture and through these it is hoped to give adequate protection to farmland yet permit a full range of outdoor activities to take place in appropriate locations. The plan extends the Green Belt significantly in the Queensferry – Kirkliston area, taking into account the new strategic housing allocation at Kirkliston, and otherwise reflects the amended boundary as recommended by the Edinburgh Green Belt Boundary Study 1999.

2.30 Although major new development will be resisted, some surface transportation schemes are proposed to achieve strategic benefits. In such cases, their full environmental impact will be rigorously assessed and any adverse effects mitigated as far as possible.

2.31 Government advice supports greater rigour by planning authorities in assessing the design and siting of new development, particularly in the countryside. Quality is the key. This plan attempts to achieve quality through a combination of criteria-based policies and summarised planning briefs.