city centre southern arc area development framework …...city centre southern arc area development...

City Centre Southern Arc Area Development Framework charrettes

The City of Edinburgh Council City Developent DepartmentOctober 2010 onwards


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In December 2009 the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) agreed to the preparation of a series of Area Development Frameworks (ADFs); commencing with Frameworks for the Waterfront & Leith and land immediately south of the city centre, extending from Holyrood to Haymarket, as these areas offered the greatest potential for change. In agreeing to their preparation the Council noted that the process by which they would be prepared is as important as the final output of the plan. It is the process that builds engagement and ‘buy-in’ to the final plan.

In order to facilitate a collaborative process the Council organised a series of charrettes (design workshops) as a means of quickly identifying problems and generating design solutions while addressing the interests of a wide range of people and groups.

This document is a summary of the outputs both from an CEC charrette, attended by officers representing service areas operating in the City Centre Southern Arc area, and external charrettes to which key stakeholders with an interest in the area were invited, including landowners and those representing community interests.

BACKGROUND


Introduction

The internal charrette was held on 6 October 2010. It was attended by officers principally representing CEC services but also included representatives of the NHS. The charrette was facilitated by Riccardo Marini, the Council’s City Design Leader and Diarmaid Lawlor, Head of Urbanism at Architecture+Design Scotland.

The charrette considered the role of the Southern Arc in the context of the City Centre in terms of ‘what is the difference and why is there a difference’? The charrette focussed on the strengths and weaknesses within the ADF area, and the opportunities that the Council Services have to coalesce around specific issues and projects. Key outcomes from the charrette covered:

INTERNAL CHARRETTE

Aim of the ADF

• To reinforce the importance of connectivity• To improve the pedestrian environment• To improve conditions for cycling• To consider the overall management of traffic• To identify opportunities for development• To promote and support the areas with the ADF• To attract investment

What the ADF should deliver

• Better streets and spaces • Sustainable development• The aspirations of the communities• Investment in the area• Better recycling facilities• Improved public realm• A shift attitudes to delivering public realm and

traffic management• Quick win projects that are easily implemented

City Centre Southern Arc Area Development Framework charrettesThe external charrette for the City Centre Southern Arc was held on 5 November 2010 at Argyll House. The event included representation from a range of business, community and political interests. The event was organised by the City if Edinburgh Council in association with Architecture + Design Scotland and Urban Initiatives.

EXTERNALCHARRETTE

Attendees

Graham Birse (Chamber of Commerce)David Hill (Together Group of Churches)Robert Black (EAA)Ewan Kennedy (CEC)Fraser McNaughton (SNH)Jonathan Guthrie (CEC)Linda Macmillan (NLS)Jim O’Donnell (Cobalt Consulting)David Jamieson (CEC)Matthew Ansell (Michael Laird Architects)Brian Sharkie (CEC)Julie Logan (Old Town Community Council)Mike Penny (CEC)Richard Grant (SPOKES)Duncan Fraser (tie)Richard Murphy (Architect)Fraser Blackwood (SEPA)

Andrew Martindale (Historic Scotland)Fiona Rankin (EWH)Grahame Lonie (NMS)Wendy Hebard (Grassmarket Residents Association)Marion Williams (Cockburn Association)Angus Currie (Edinburgh University)Neil Maxwell (EAA)Martin Higgins (NHS)Will Garrett (CEC)Ann Wigglesworth (Tollcross Community Council)Krzysztof Jan Chuchra (EWH)John Perry (City Wall Properties Ltd)Cllr Joanna MowatCllr Paul GodzikCllr Cameron RoseIsabel Thom (West End Community Council)


THE SPEAKERS

Riccardo Marini (CEC City Design Leader)

John Dales (Director – Urban Initiatives)

Diarmaid Lawlor (A+DS Head of Urbanism)


GOOD & BAD THINGS

Participants were asked to suggest good and bad things about the Southern Arc area.

Good

• Dramatic terrain and geology has informed the built development

• Hidden green spaces hidden behind urban frontages• The Old Town, The Castle and Royal Mile• Good walking environment – can cross town easily• Gardens & open space in particular the Meadows• The University and Old College• Unique skyline - dramatic landscape• Art Galleries, National Museum of Scotland,

ScottishStorytelling Centre• Princes Street, Cowgate & Grassmarket• Closes and vennels• Old Town architecture• Mix of independent businesses, i.e. Grassmarket/

Victoria Street.• Festivals• Forrest café• Constant changing visitors & unexpected views• Variety of urban spaces and streets

Bad

• Certain areas (Grassmarket/Cowgate) can be no-go week ends/ evenings

• Future Haymarket (needs a EWH Buffer Area)

• Tartan tat shops• Roadworks/Tramworks• Stag & hen parties and associated problems• Traffic congestion• Pedestrian crossings• Lothian Road• Begging in shopping areas• Environment on King Stables Road and

Calton Road• Dreary quality of new housing & offices• Oversized buildings, blank frontages at street

level• City ignores the presence of Holyrood Park • Dumbiedykes• Poor quality pavements

City Centre Southern Arc Area Development Framework charrettesParticipants were grouped into three Planning Tables to look at the West, Mid and East Areas of the ADF. The following is a summary of the discussions:

PLANNING TABLES

(WEST AREA)

ISSUESHaymarketMulti model accessNot well defined gatewayConfused pedestrian environmentMany roads converging

FountainbridgeOver scaledNo open spaceNot part of the city

West Approach Road“Disfunctional” developmentLack of permeability/pedestrian priorityTransport movement

Lothian RoadPedestrian / Vehicle conflictEast of Lothian Road- Premure of uses on residentsAntisocial uses- Centre of activity (time)

CAUSES/EFFECTSTrafficConflict managementTraffic volume from outsideInsufficient respect for residentsNot managed to reflect historic characterLack of clear strategyLack of action/political leadershipCar based interestsBusesEnvironment/air quality

DevelopmentsFinancial institutions are not plannersHorizontal layering not pursued by planners

UsersLicensingTimingManagement of these

TO DO LIST

MANAGEMENT SMALL STUFF BIG STUFFCo-ordinate service delivery – SfC, PlanningTransport with effective community involvement

Morrison St – junctions, change one-way trafficLothian Rd – improve crossing Usher Hall/ Festival SqWest Approach Rd - Road crossings - Effects

greater amenityimproved linkseconomy of the area

Improve pedestrian offer across the areaIncrease the amount of pedestrian trafficEffect will be to improved quality of life/healthBreak down Southern Arc - focus on areas within itGenerate clear actions – phasing – things that will happen


PLANNING TABLES

(MID AREA)

ISSUES

Lack of clarity - visitors – need better directionsKing Stables Rd – poor environment – hostileDesire for circular bus route around areaSee the street is an elevationNicolson St/South Bridge - efficiency is important for pedestrians + vehiclesUse landscape as separation between traffic & pedestrians Soft landscape - reduces pollutionClarify the ‘place’ – uses will inform this Re-in force identities - village to village

CAUSES/EFFECTS

Traffic movement e.g. Johnston Terr restrictions = traffic elsewhereGrowth tourism/education = more infrastructure Lack of through routes - transition between car & walkingPrioritise: some streets as places/some street as roadsAssess/understand how streets workOut of town retailing = less demand for butchers, bakery etc Night time economy – Tipped balance, Poor pedestrian environment = shop elsewhere

TO DO LIST

MANAGEMENT SMALL STUFF BIG STUFFCreate a STREET MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLClutter- guard rail, signage regulationsLicensing - better regulation noise = nuisance manage drinking in street/open air enforcement non compliance Waste collection containerisation, street cleansingUses classes agreed but could be any restaurant operatorTraffic management: Car speeds City Car Club - get businesses to join Public realm contributions Spread the benefit wider

Key Junctions programme: Middle Meadow walk @ Forrest Rd Extend the greenspace into the City Candlemaker Row (pedestrian access to Grassmar-ket and link to Chamber St Lothian Rd - junctions all along King Stables Rd – Key link but not pleasant Way finding system

West Bow/Victoria St – wider pavementsBed tax to pay for specific public realm projectsGeorge IV Bridge- Libraries project, bring togetherBetter parking managementOld Town fire site – improve linkagesHolyrood to Haymarket - make a great street and cycle route


PLANNING TABLES

(EAST AREA)

ISSUES

Movement: Motorway feel to Tollcross Potterrow - 1970’s legacy south inner city motorway Impacts of works of High St and traffic speeds Traffic in CowgateWalk-able Increase walking - make it attractive Public Space: Different users - different requirements, pedestrian needs not same as cyclists Streets and closes are public spaces Need to accommodate young people in the area

TO DO LIST

MANAGEMENT SMALL STUFF BIG STUFFManage local spaces for a mixed community: Residents University Businesses Visitors

Promote housing - or lose community resourcesSave: Public space Public uses Public amenity Public benefitDe Clutter: Guardrail, Bus shelters, signage

North - South Bridges: Could be a sustainable shopping area Improve the pedestrian environmentDevelop the Cowgate fire siteReuse the Tron Kirk as a building at riskReview issues associated with alcohol: Cost and availability - Licensing Drinking culture Tensions between uses and residents and transience population


A further Charrette was held with stakeholders on 15 December 2010 to discuss the outcomes from the previous charrette and develop the scenarios for a draft Area Development Framework.

The event was held in The Lot in the Grassmarket and was attended by stakeholders and those with an interest in the area.

General Discussion

The assembled group raised issues which required further discussion and sought to have these expressed in this document. These issues included:

EXTERNALCHARRETTE 2

15.12.10

• There needs to be an emphasis on Edinburgh’s history and the conservation qualities of the area• The interaction with heritage is important as it provides interest to all ages• There may be a focus on Transport matters but this is part of a series of issues for the area• The need to consider cultural heritage as part of the context and framework – this could build on work

already undertaken by local residents – such as the Canongate survey• Cycling issues must be seen as part of the outcomes• Needing to tell the story of the area• Emphasise the uniqueness of the area/layers of history• The Cowgate has been neglected over the years, likewise the bridges over it• Sustainable development must be feature of the framework• Consider carefully language used in the framework


Participants broke into groups to look at sub-areas within the ADF area. Possible actions, objectives and projects came out of the group discussions. These are not exhaustive and will continue to be developed.

PLANNING TABLES

(WEST AREA)Actions, objectives and projects

• Provide information and better directions to/from Haymarket in the short term• Develop the notion of a the City ‘street’ - east/west route (Grassmarket to Haymarket)• Rethink the pedestrian movement between Haymarket and Dalry• Have more than one entrance/exit into Haymarket to and consider how these could be used to

improve the street • Destination points should be the focus of attention, to maximise access


Actions, objectives and projects

• Complete a mapping exercise of the area• Develop a Street management protocol• Encourage and maintain community engagement/civic involvement• Projects

Nodes - Grassmarket, Tollcross, South Bridge/High Street, Bristo Square

Streets – Cowgate, South Bridge, King Stable Road

TheLowRoad-(Cowgate)

TheHighRoad-(HaymarkettoGrassmarket)

TheNoRoad-(GrassmarkettoCanalBasin)

PLANNING TABLES

(MID AREA)


Actions, objectives and projects

• Difficulty of capturing diversity & complexity of the area• Necessary to build on what we have, not overlay modern planning on 2000yrs of heritage• Traditional uses gone. People pushed out due to conflict of uses• Recognise different uses of transport corridor

Uses

• Conflict – Co-operation – richness – shared – industrial uses disappeared shared – car • No start up/artisan class-required

Bolster how we document character & setting…….Culture, mapping, intangible heritage (UNESCO)

1. Plan to manage & inform change 2. How past is contained in pace + how people have impacted on place 3. Affordable housing, policy & requirement for social housing

ACTIONS / OBJECTIONS

1. Understand the specific place before any intervention & genius loci. 2. Review implementation of affordable housing policy – social housing. 3. Acknowledge & support short term infinitives……..learn by doing!

DO SOMETHING!

PLANNING TABLES

(EAST AREA)


NEXTSTEPS

The ideas, suggestions and concepts for projects which came out of the last charrette will be discussed further and developed.

The projects will then be described and mapped in more detail prior to being presented to the Council’s Planning Committee later this year.

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The City of Edinburgh Council City Development Department

city centre southern arc area development framework …...city centre southern arc area development...

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