Planning Matters
City of Edinburgh Council
A team of reporters from the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) has been examining the next Local Development Plan “City Plan 2030” since February this year, and the plan, including any recommended modifications, should be adopted early to mid 2024.
We were very supportive of the plan for Edinburgh biodiversity as it managed to include all the good biodiversity crisis policies in the then-imminent National Planning Framework 4 (which has since become law).
Carmina Cazan
East Lothian
Local Development Plan: We are very pleased to report that the ‘Design and Test’ of a methodology to check and confirm the biodiversity condition of the currently designated Local Biodiversity Sites (LBS) in East Lothian (EL), ready as evidence for the new Local Development plan, was completed at the end of September. We fund-raised for this work and persuaded the head of planning to match this funding in order for the design and testing on three current LBS’ to be completed in time to be evidence for the Local Plan. The test is considered to be a success and next year EL will ask all its known botanical volunteers to help survey the condition of the habitats that were declared to be of importance for the LBS’ when the current boundaries were defined no later than 2013. These volunteers will be provided with a manual on how to appropriately, in the EL context, survey such habitats which will be written by the local ecological consultant Ben Averis employed on this project. Just like in the late seventies/early eighties when SWT Lothians volunteers surveyed the whole of the Lothians for candidate LBS’ (they were called listed wildlife sites then) it is hoped by EL that all the survey work can be done by volunteers and I ask that anybody not already doing such work in EL and who is interested to come forward and join me to volunteer! There are still 54 of the 57 sites to be checked and not just habitats need checking – species noted of high conservation importance for the LBS designation such as notable plants and more mobile things like badgers, water voles and red squirrels (all may have disappeared from a site since the designation 10+ years ago) also need checking in separate visits. The methodology should allow the Local Development Plan planners to include the LBS’ in the next, just starting to be written, Local plan for East Lothian. As in every council that has LBS these LBS form the core of the ‘Nature Network’ that every council now has to create due to recent planning legislation.
Levenhall Links consultation: East Lothian Council is currently running a consultation of the future use of Levenhall Links, and it would be good to ensure there is as big a response as possible to this. The consultation period ends on 3 November but they might be prepared to take views after that, as this consultation is run by the Countryside service not the Planning service. For more information, see the East Lothian Council website.
Musselburgh Flood Prevention scheme: A highly related issue is the on going – no decisions made yet – on the proposed Flood prevention scheme for Musselburgh and whether or not it should be a Nature Based Solution or mostly a wall (the two may not be mutually exclusive). This scheme can be found on www.musselburghfloodprotection.com
This first vision of the Outline Design was presented at the Public Exhibition in June 2023. The design is currently moving forward, developing through your feedback.
To view all the event materials showcasing the design, including design maps, information boards and the 3D animation, please visit ‘Public Exhibition No.2 – June 2023‘.
The Project Team are holding Drop-in Sessions at the Brunton Hall from August to December. Please visit ‘Further Drop-in Sessions Announced for Brunton Hall‘ to find out dates and times.
Planning volunteers: The planning team wish to thank Ian Whittaker, our planning representative for East Lothian who retired recently from this role, for all his efforts. We are now looking for a volunteer replacement based in East Lothian who is interested in doing this crucial role (with appropriate training and tools, which are available). Meanwhile I shall cover East Lothian until a replacement is found. Please contact me in the first instance if you wish to explore this voluntary role.
Dr Tim Duffy
Midlothian
In the last Planning Matters we mentioned the Council’s intention to prepare an updated Local Development Plan (LDP). This is being referred to as Midlothian Local Development Plan 2 (MLDP2). Some early consultation took place in May and June. An Open Space Strategy Survey was available to look at and complete until 31 October. The LDP team and the Ranger Service also consulted with local countryside volunteers including the Midlothian Paths Group on greenspaces and path networks in Midlothian.
The next stage is to collate all the information from consultations which will help prepare an Evidence Report on which to base the new plan. If you are interested, look on the Midlothian Council’s website and perhaps sign up for the Newsletter.
Penicuik Estate is progressing its plans for new visitor facilities. It has submitted an application for a new visitor hub at Carswell Steading just off the main road from Penicuik to Biggar. This is still to be approved by the Council.
Susan Manson
Dr Tim Duffy SWT Lothians Planning Secretary – timrduffy1@gmail.com
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Midlothian: The current Midlothian Local Plan was approved in 2017. The Council is now embarking on the early consultation stages for the next review of the Local Plan. It is intended it will replace the old plan by 2027 and cover the period until 2036.
The key issues for the new Plan include the climate emergency and the ‘nature / biodiversity crisis’. Other issues are ‘protection of natural, cultural and historical assets’. However, the plan also has to satisfy government requirements for housing land supply. As always there will be a trade off between the need to build houses, and where and how the houses will be built. In the first 20 years of this century, Midlothian Council area saw its population rise more than most other authorities in Scotland. Statistics from the Council predict that between 2018 and 2028 the population in Midlothian will increase by 13.8 %. This is compared to 1.8% for Scotland as a whole.
Local people and communities in Midlothian are being encouraged to engage with events being organised between April and October this year. There are also surveys on the Council’s website including the Open Space Strategy Survey (Check the Consultations page on the Council’s website). SWT members can look on Midlothian Council website for details of events and ways to get involved in their area.
Penicuik House and Estate is an extensive Local Biodiversity Site. The designed landscape around the ruins of Penicuik House is one of the oldest and most important in Scotland. New management are proposing a ‘Landscape Hotel’ and Landscape rooms around the High Pond. The Hotel will be in the existing building (formerly the stables) adjacent to Penicuik House. The whole project plans to be of the highest environmental standards using sustainable building practices. The Estate is also planning a new car park at the existing entrance off Carlops Road, and a visitor centre and farm shop to cater for local people and visitors, who are using the estate in increasing numbers. The planning application is accompanied by ecological surveys and landscape plans. More planting will be included in the development, plus increased walks and paths around the Estate, and links with surrounding areas including the Pentland Hills.
The Midlothian Outdoor Festival will take place between 13th to 16th October. Run by the Ranger Service but supported by a large number of volunteers, there are walks and events over the long weekend. Included is a walk around Gladhouse Reservoir with the newly appointed ranger.
Earlier in the year Midlothian’s Ranger Service was threatened with major budget cuts. The Ranger Service was to be reduced to one post. The Council reversed its decision after many individuals demonstrated their support for the Service and the work it does, by contacting Councillors, and writing emails and media posts.
The annual Local Biodiversity Sites meeting was held on 8th February 2023. Supported by The Wildlife Information Centre and Midlothian Council, the group members confirmed the status of four Local Biodiversity sites; namely Aikendean Glen, Mount Lothian Quarry Ponds, Middleton Lime Quarries (west) and Stretchendean Wood.
East Lothian: In the last issue of Lothian Talk, we reported that SWT had raised funds to help East Lothian Council monitor its network of Local Biodiversity Sites (LBS) for the first time in over ten years. We are very pleased to report confirmation that they can match our donated funds, thereby doubling them and their effectiveness. Accordingly, a project run by The Wildlife Information Centre (the biological records centre for Lothians and beyond) is going ahead this summer to, ‘Design and test a Local Biodiversity Site monitoring and evidence provision system for East Lothian Council’. The system should allow Local Development Plan planners to include the LBS’ in the next Local Plan for East Lothian. These LBSs form the core of the ‘Nature Network’ that every council now has to create due to recent planning legislation.
For other planning news, inc. West Lothian and City of Edinburgh Council, see Planning Matters online.
Contacts For Planning Matters Affecting Wildlife Sites
Midlothian: Susan Manson – mansons@castlesteads.net
East Lothian: Ian Whittaker – ianw0@yahoo.co.uk
West Lothian & City of Edinburgh Council: Carmina Cazan – carminacazan@yahoo.com
Dr Tim Duffy (SWT Lothians Planning Secretary) timrduffy1@gmail.com
Scottish Wildlife Trust Lothians 