After months of consultation the new City Plan 2030 was approved by councillors this month. Following public consultation earlier this year the Council decided upon a brownfield first approach to new housing. This was then detailed in the latest report which identified brownfield sites across the city which were suitable for development. You can read the report here: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/cityplan2030

There is a lot to be pleased about in the new City Plan 2030. The approach to build on brownfield land – with existing infrastructure – rather than a further erosion of the green belt is to be welcomed. It is a shame this approach was not adopted by earlier plans when vast swathes of the green belt were built on despite many of us campaigning so hard for its retention. This doesn’t mean to say that developers can’t put proposals in for green belt areas but they are less likely to be approved by the Council or, indeed, on appeal to the Scottish Government.

There is still some uncertainty over the provision of the brownfield sites, with developers arguing that they cannot be released quickly enough. Furthermore, there are still issues to resolve with land at Inch Nursery and Moredun, as well as a real lack of infrastructure for many of the new estates built on green belt sites under the previous local development plan which I am working with communities to resolve.