Community Visioning for Astley Ainslie Hospital Grounds,

May 2019 “I am a frequenter “The Community of the Astley Ainslie Empowerment - my son is resident () Act at the Royal Blind 2015 will help to on Canaan Lane and empower community we often push his bodies through the wheelchair around ownership or the grounds. My fear control of land and has always been that buildings.” such a large, secluded, green space in a prime Scottish Government location would be sold off to developers. I’d be keen to see that not happen!” Contents Ian Rankin, 2019 1 Introduction 2 Context History of the site The site today Planning policy and access to greenspace Astley Ainslie Community Trust 3 Engaging the local community 4 Future vision for the site 5 What next? Acknowledgements Appendices: This report has been published by Astley Ainslie Community Trust, and prepared on their behalf by 1 School pupils’ ideas Nick Wright, an independent facilitator. 2 Exhibition boards displayed at the Ideas and Vision Days The Community Trust would like to thank: 3 Ideas Day: people’s favourite places at the Astley Ainslie • Volunteers from the local community who helped to 4 Ideas Day: people’s wishes for the Astley Ainslie make the community visioning a success. in 10 years’ time • The hundreds of local residents and other local 5 Ideas Day: individual responses received online organisations who engaged in the visioning process, 6 Vision Day: individual comments on the draft including the Astley Ainslie Community Engagement vision and scenarios Group. 7 Results of Grange Association questionnaire survey, 2017 • The Scottish Government’s “Making Places” programme for providing funding to enable the visioning process to take place.

2 3 1 Key dates for the future of Astley Introduction Ainslie

“Part 5 of the Community Empowerment Act introduces a right for community bodies to make requests to all local authorities, Scottish Ministers and a range of public bodies for any land or buildings they they could make better use of. They can request ownership, lease or other rights as they wish.”

Scottish Government

NHS Lothian has announced This report tells the story of that Although the hospital will not the coming months, and we that the Astley Ainslie community engagement and the close for several years, the City of hope that its contents will be of Hospital in Morningside is emerging vision for the future of Edinburgh Council will establish assistance. the Astley Ainslie. new planning policy about the due to close in the mid 2020s. future of the site in the next year If community ownership The 17 hectares (42 acres) of The community engagement or so in a ‘Place Brief’, and the emerges as being part of the local grounds are brimming with process was organised by the NHS may start marketing the community’s future vision for Trust with a grant of nearly site to developers at any time. the site, the Community Trust is nature and history, and are £12,000 from the Scottish prepared to lead a Community located in the heart of South The Community Trust therefore Government’s “Making Places” believes it is important to start Asset Transfer for all or part of the Edinburgh. Astley Ainslie fund. The purposes of the thinking about the future of the site. As well as informing future Community Trust (AACT) engagement process were to: grounds and buildings now. planning policy, the Community was established in 2018 by Trust hopes that this report will • Understand the local City of Edinburgh Council and also help to inform: volunteer local residents who community’s aspirations for NHS Lothian were consulted believe that the community the grounds and buildings about the form of the community • NHS Lothian’s decision-making as a whole will benefit from at Astley Ainslie after the engagement process described about future disposal of the site. hospital has closed. in this report. The City Council continued public access • Other funding sources, such has advised that it wishes to use to, and ownership of, the • Prepare a vision for how Astley as charitable foundations and the outcomes of this consultation Ainslie could be developed private gifts. grounds and buildings. to inform planning policy for in the future, based on those the future of the site, which will The Trust has developed a community aspirations. • Potential sources of funding for be embodied in the ‘Place Brief’ Community Asset Transfer such vision for the future of the • Use that community vision to to guide future development of as the Scottish Land Fund. site based on community inform decisions about planning the hospital. The community aspirations, through a series policy for the site and disposal of engagement process and vision • Other organisations who of public events and other the land and buildings. described in this report have been may wish to partner with the Community Trust to deliver the community engagement designed to support the Council in preparing the Place Brief over vision described in this report. activities in March 2019.

4 5 2 “Between every two pine trees is a door Context to a new way of life.”

John Muir, 1911 Astley Ainslie is publicly History of the site Botanic Gardens’ assistance, and owned land, bought in the new buildings were designed to The site has a fascinating history 1920s by the Trustees of accommodate patients from the – supporting Edinburgh’s health Royal Infirmary. David Ainslie, who left a and well-being as far back as handsome sum of money the 16th century, well before the In the 1930s, the hospital extended c.1855 c.1885 to set up a convalescent creation of the Astley Ainslie its work into Occupational Therapy, with the help of an hospital for patients from hospital we know today in the 1920s. expert from Canada called the Royal Infirmary. The Mabel McNeill Macrae. During Trustees subsequently In the 16th century, the land the Second World War, the established the Astley was part of the Common Good: government took control of the Ainslie hospital to assist Edinburgh’s open land that site, intending to accommodate stretched out to the hills. At that wounded soldiers. After the both the recovery of its time, the city was subject to War, the Trustees immediately patients and the health and vicious attacks of plague. The worked on plans to extend their pleasure of the surrounding sick were sent out to this site, and occupational therapy work, neighbourhood. a chapel was built here. It was buying the houses and gardens of dedicated to St Roque, the patron St Roque and Morelands to do so. The NHS took over the saint of plague victims, who had In the late 1940s, the government hospital in the 1940s. It is himself looked after the sick. Many people died and were buried set up the National Health Service now the last convalescent in a cemetery on the site. and negotiated with the Astley hospital in Scotland. NHS Ainslie Trustees to take over both Lothian is building new St Roque’s chapel survived until the property and the endowment facilities at the Royal the early 18th century, when – the largest in Scotland. Since a Baillie who had bought the then the NHS has continued Edinburgh site, and will land decided to demolish it. The and extended the work of the c.1909 c.1944 dispose of the land at the scaffolding crashed, killing a Astley Ainslie through a wide Astley Ainslie in around man, and the workmen refused range of rehabilitation services, five years’ time. to complete the demolition. The particularly using physiotherapy, remains of the chapel were finally occupational therapy, speech and demolished in 1803. During the language therapy and psychology, nineteenth century, cottages and to help patients to reach their villas were built on the site with greatest potential. In 1976, the large gardens. Rehabilitation Medicine Unit was established, providing a focus Meanwhile, David Ainslie was a for a range of services including successful stockbreeder who lived work with cardiac, stroke, brain near Haddington, winning many injury, amputee, chronic pain, agricultural shows in the mid and the care of elderly patients. In nineteenth century. His brother, 1992, the impressive Heart Manual John, died in 1849 leaving his was first published. A state-of- new-born son in David’s care. the-art centre was built 12 years Tragically, the boy John Astley ago to provide rehabilitation Ainslie died aged 26, leaving his technology services, including Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland uncle David bereft. mobility, prosthetic, orthotics, On his own death in 1900, David bioengineering, and electronic Ainslie had determined to set assistive technologies. up a convalescent hospital in Over the last century, thousands memory of his nephew. By 1920 of people have been helped his Trustees had accumulated to rebuild their lives at the enough capital to buy the present Astley Ainslie; and many more beautiful site, looking south over thousands of families and friends the hills. It comprised a number have been cheered by their of the villas that had been built in success. the previous century. The gardens were laid out with the Royal 6 7 The Astley Ainslie site is shaded in dark green. The area outlined in red indicates the The Astley Ainslie site, March 2019 Community Body area of the Astley Ainslie Community Trust.

The site today Some facilities are run by the seating), prosthetics and NHS, but not all: bioengineering services The Astley Ainslie site (artificial limbs and special • In-patient rehabilitation services extends to approximately equipment), a disabled living for adults with acquired brain centre, gait analysis service, the 20 hectares (50 acres). injury, stroke, orthopaedic national driving assessment It is an active site providing injuries, limb amputation, service and an orthotics service healthcare services, a café and progressive neurological for the Lothians. and a nursery. disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). • Café run by volunteers.

• Rehabilitation outpatient • Kidzcare nursery (non NHS). services for these patient groups with the exception of In addition, charitable groups like orthopaedic patients. the Friends of the Astley Ainslie have helped make the site what it • Outpatient / community is through initiatives like building services, such as the hydropool. a walkway around the site to enable patients to move around • Outpatient / community in the fresh air and in the trees. programmes including chronic Many local people take pleasure in pain, cardiac rehabilitation and the gardens and woodlands of the angina management. site, and use it for recreation, as well as walking or cycling through • SMART Centre (South-East the site every day to get to school, Mobility and Rehabilitation work or the shops. Technology) provides a wide range of rehabilitation technology services, including mobility and postural services (wheelchairs and special 8 9 T 4 T 7 HSG 26 T 4 South East Grange “Urban trees give us HSG 14 HSG 27 enjoyment and SCH 2 Niddrie Newcraighall T improve health and Prestonfield S1 6 well­being in hard T 1 Stenhouse Shandon urban environments.” Saughton 7 Forestry Commission T Scotland, 2017 T 4 Craigmillar

T

7 7 T HSG 16 5 1 T 4 T T 4 Open space HSG 15

Morningside Designated HSG 17 conservation area T 4 Myreside GS 5 SCH 3

Cycleway / Slateford Footpath safeguard T 7 T 4 7 Nature and wildlife In 2016, members of Edinburgh Planning policy and and development. All of the These points are illustrated by the wildlife group ‘Wild Reekie’ Astley Ainslie sites lies within a plan extracts from the Open Space HSG 18 T “We felt we had a The Astley Ainslie hospital conducted a mini-bioblitz of access to greenspace Conservation Area. Action Plan overleaf. HSG 41 sits in a wonderful park-like biodiversity in the Astley Ainslie glimpse into a treasury Blackford HSG 18 Any future development or • Active travel: the Proposals Map The absence of good quality environment that has contributed grounds. In just 2 hours, they on our doorstep!” changes in land use at the Astley to the wellbeing, recreation and noted 66 different species shows proposed and potential public greenspaces in the local Ainslie should, of course, be cycle/ footpath links and new area reflects the density and convalescence of its patients and including trees, flowers (including guided by planning policy. Longstone the local community for nearly woodland flowers from ancient Wild Reekie, 2016 access points (marked in blue amount of flatted residential 100 years. The site has nearly forests), grasses, birds and small Edinburgh Local Development on the plan extract with the property, particularly north and The City of Edinburgh Council Boundary Del 1; Des 1-13; Env 2-4, 2,000 trees belonging to over mammals – demonstrating the Plan (LDP), adopted in 2016, reference T7). LDP Policy west of the site. 100 species. Many are protected, TRA9 protects against new importance of the site as part of contains the latest planning policy A designated Core Path passes Env 7-9, Env 12, Env 16; and have created a natural development which would a wider green network across the for the site. (A Planning Brief through the site, linking South environment of significant prevent implementation of these city for wildlife and people. prepared for the site in 2002 by Oswald Road to the east and Env 18 -22; Hou 1-7; Hou 9 -10; importance that serves people routes. the City Council has now largely Canaan Lane to the west. The as well as nature. The Inch General plan - wide policies been superseded by the passage of The City Council’s ‘Open Space Core Path is well-used as a route Ret 1, Ret 6, Ret 8, Ret10 -11; time.) The LDP Proposals Map (see 2021’ (open space strategy) was to schools by local children. As part of a larger urban forest accompanying graphic extract) stretching from the Grange in published in 2016. This suite Tra 1-4, Tra 6, Tra 8-9, Tra 11; contains three provisions that of documents includes the South- GS 4 the north and east to Braid Park apply to the site: in the south, the trees at the East Locality Open Space Action RS 1, RS 4, RS 6 - RS 7 Astley Ainslie are a haven for • Open space: LDP Policies ENV18 Plan, which demonstrates that the T 7 wildlife. As well as more than and ENV19 protect against loss communities surrounding the site T fail the Council’s two standards 100 kinds of birds recorded at of open space or outdoor play 7 Astley Ainslie, there is also a facilities in the areas shown in for access to greenspace: wealth of other less obvious Emp 2 the green on the Proposals Map. • No good quality local wildlife including different kinds greenspace within 400m. of snail, wildflowers, mosses, • Conservation Area: LDP Policies lichens and fungi. ENV5 and ENV6 protect the • No good quality large Conservation Area against greenspace within 800m. Proposals Map designations and relevant policies and proposals in the Written Statement inappropriate demolition T

7 10 11 T 1 Urban Area - refers to all LDP area outwith Emp 1, Emp 9-10, the Green Belt and Countryside Policy Area Hou 8, Ret 6, RS 3 T 7 HSG 30 Greenbank City Centre Del 2, Emp 1, Ret 7, Tra 5 Craiglockhart HSG 40 (CC1) Table 10 City Centre Proposal (CC2-4) Table 3, Table 10, Hou 1 (EW 1a-c, EW 2a-d) Del 3, Hou 1, Ret 7 Edinburgh Waterfront (EW 1d&e) Table 2, Del 3, Emp 8 Liberton Edinburgh Park/South Gyle Del 4, Emp 1

Env 1 HSG 28 World Heritage Site

Oxgangs Designated Conservation Area Env 5, Env 6

Scheduled Ancient Monument Env 8 (including Union Canal) Comiston Gilmerton Historic Garden / Designed Landscape Colinton Gracemount T 19 Env 7 HSG 25 - Inventory Site HSG 10 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Green Belt Env 10 ! ! ! ! ! Mortonhall SCH 7 Countryside Policy Area Env 10

Special Landscape Area Env 11 T 20 HSG 24 Swanston HSG 23 International and National Natural Heritage Env 13, Env 14 Fairmilehead SCH 8 Designation (Natura 2000 Site and/or SSSI)

Local Nature Conservation Site Env 15 GS 9 5 HSG 39 T Local Nature Reserve Env 15

HSG 21 Area of Importance for Flood Management Env 21 HSG 22 Open Space Env 18, Env 19

Greenspace Proposal (GS1-11) Table 1

T 7 Pentland Hills Regional Park Env 17

Housing Proposal (HSG 1 - HSG 41) Tables 3 & 4, Hou 1

School Proposal (SCH 4-5) Table 5 \! Indicative School Proposal( SCH 1-3, SCH 6-10) Table 5 Strategic Business Centre Emp 1

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Emp 8, RS 3

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Business and Industry Area

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Special Economic Area (Emp 2-8) Table 2, Emp 2-8

Safeguard for Potential Relocation Emp 5 of Royal Highland Centre Table 6, Ret 5, Local Centre Ret 9, Emp 1 Table 6, Ret 2, Ret 3, Town Centre (including City Centre Retail Core) Ret 9, Emp 1

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Table 7, Ret 4 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Commercial Centre ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Speciality Shopping Street Ret 10 \! Indicative Shopping Proposal (S1-S5) Table 8, Ret 5, Ret 9 Tram Route Safeguard with Proposed Stop Table 9, Tra 7

Existing Tram Route with Stops Table 9, Tra 7

Railway Safeguard Table 9, Tra 7 %2 Station Safeguard Table 9, Tra 7 Roundabout / Junction Improvement Table 9, Tra 10

" " Road Safeguard / Improvement Table 9, Tra 10

Cycleway/ Potential Public Transport Safeguard Table 9, Tra 7, Tra 9

! ! ! Cycleway / Footpath Safeguard Table 9, Tra 9

k Cycleway / Footpath Access Safeguard Table 9, Tra 9 Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Emp 4 Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Safeguard for Potential Additional Runway Licence Number 100023420. City of Edinburgh Council 2009. F Airport Public Safety Zone Tra 12 Pentland Hills 1:25,000 1:15,000 Safeguarded Waste Management Facility RS 2, RS 3, RS 4 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( F ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( Minerals Site RS 3, RS 5 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( AACT timeline

Astley Ainslie Community Trust Astley Ainslie Community Trust (AACT) was formed by a group of local residents who have been meeting regularly since early 2018. AACT’s constitution states that:

“The aim of the organisation shall be to pursue community ownership on the Astley Ainslie site for the common good, and to provide a forum for all those who wish to engage.” AACT is currently an unincorporated constituted association, and also a ‘Community Body’ in terms of community empowerment and ownership legislation. If, in the future, AACT wishes (for example) to exercise rights on behalf of the local community under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act, we will adapt our constituted status appropriately.

The Trust members have a broad and comprehensive range of professional and personal experience, at the service of the public. Members share the belief that community involvement is vital to the future of the Astley Ainslie.

AACT is prepared to lead community ownership on all or part of the site in order to deliver the vision contained in this report, in collaboration with other Engagement Group comprises organisations as appropriate. the four surrounding Community Councils – Marchmont & Sciennes The Astley Ainslie Community Community Council, Morningside Engagement Group is a Community Council, Merchiston separate body from AACT. Community Council and Grange The two organisations have & Prestonfield Community distinct roles but maintain Council – together with the close liaison. The Community Grange Association.

12 13 3 “Quality places are central to community Engaging the community life. A successful place is accessible to all and The only way of producing • Appropriate venues, equipment, The engagement programme encourages people a community-led vision is promotion and materials for the focussed on two high-profile 7th March to connect with one through good community consultation activities. public events on consecutive weekends, each complemented by Schools another.” engagement. This section These resources ensured that the online engagement opportunities various consultation activities describes how Astley Ainslie using the Community Trust’s events Creating Places that took place during March Community Trust engaged website and social media Scottish Government Policy 2019 were delivered to a high channels. The public events were Statement, 2014 the local community standard. The intention was to through a well planned preceded by a substantial publicity meet and exceed PAS (formerly campaign. Separate workshops programme, volunteer Planning Aid Scotland) SP=EED with local schools ensured that 9th - 17th March commitment, professional benchmarking for community young people’s views also fed into expertise and Scottish engagement in planning and the the process. High-street Scottish Government’s National Government resources. Standards for Community pop-ups With the kind support of the Engagement. Scottish Government’s “Making The community engagement Places” programme, the programme was devised by an Community Trust was able independent facilitator and events to put in place: manager working closely with 23rd March • A team of volunteers and paid the Community Trust, whose staff with professional expertise members worked hard to support in web design, social media, delivery of the engagement Ideas events manager, facilitation, programme whilst taking graphic design, photography/ great care to avoid influencing Day video, health and wellbeing, the vision and outcomes that ecology, forestry, architecture, emerged from the process. planning, community development and housing. 25th - 29th March

Analysis

31st March Vision Day

May This report

14 15 The community visioning • Ideas Day: the first of two major from the schools engagement process comprised a number of weekend events and the main events, a programme of engagement activities in March focus for gathering community hourly talks and discussions, 2019: ideas about the future of the site. site walkabouts kindly Over 300 people participated organised by volunteers • Schools sessions involving in the event, which took the from the Astley Ainslie pupils from three local form of a 6-hour drop-in Community Engagement Primary Schools (St Peters, session at the Eric Liddell Group, and of course plenty of South Morningside and James Centre in Morningside. As the knowledgeable volunteers to Gillespies) and a local secondary accompanying double page facilitate. school (Boroughmuir). These spread shows (see overleaf), a were used to understand how range of activities, information o Ideas for the future of the site pupils used the site and to and materials was organised to were sought using a range of understand their aspirations make the event as interesting, bespoke engagement activities for its future. Pupils recorded engaging and relevant to as designed to be engaging for their aspirations on posters wide a range of people as the public whilst providing which were also replicated (see Appendix 1) which were possible: valuable ‘raw material’ or data online. A large selection of displayed at the two main public for the visioning exercise. The inspirational images from events and online. [insert 1 or 2 o Information was available to primary means of gathering other places was also available posters or extracts from them] help people understand the individual comments from for people to rank, as a visual site and context, including people was a set of two stimulus about the kind of display panels (see Appendix specially-designed postcards activities or proposal might 2) and leaflets, a 3D model asking about use of the site be appropriate for the site and giant floor map, outputs now and ideas for its future, in the future.

“Great event to get the

• Weekend on-street popups in community engaged. Morningside and Marchmont It would be devastating during the fortnight before to see such a great, well the public events, to increase awareness. used space fall to the wrong use. So good luck!”

Public comment from Community event

16 17 “Much needed exercise, “Super opportunity to highly informative and have our say.” much appreciated.” Public comment from Public comment from Community event Community event

Information display: One-to-one discussions: 3D model and giant floor map: Hourly programme of talks: session. More information on the professionally-designed display throughout the day, plenty these were specially designed to help people understand both programme and speakers can be panels provided authoritative of knowledgeable volunteers and prepared for the Ideas Day the nature and potential of the seen here. Average attendance information about the site’s were on hand to welcome to act as a prominent focus for site, a programme of hourly talks was 30-35 people per session, history, natural interest and participants, explain the event, orientation and discussion in the and discussions was arranged many of whom stayed for a current status, the Community answer questions, facilitate one- main consultation space. throughout the Ideas Day. The number of sessions. Trust and the visioning process, to-one discussions about the aim was to provide a parallel planning policy, the possibility site and – critically – encourage source of information and of community asset transfer, and people to leave individual written discussion to help people consider the likely timeline for disposal of comments to feed into the the site and its future before the site. The panels are shown in visioning process. The over- submitting written comments Appendix 2 and are available on riding aims were to encourage via individual postcards (see the Community Trust’s website. people to avail themselves of below). Each hourly session had Relevant information leaflets and the information and discussion up to three speakers focussing documents were also available to opportunities, encourage them to on a different theme – including view. form their own views, and then history, health, nature, people record those on postcards. and buildings – with facilitated discussion forming a part of each

18 19 “The Council wants new development to create great places for people to live, work and enjoy.”

City of Edinburgh Council Design Guidance

Guided tours of the site: Astley Individual postcards: This was Inspirational images: to help Comments book: finally, Ainslie Community Group kindly the main consultation method people imagine what the site participants were invited to helped to organise a number of for gathering feedback from might or might not be appropriate comment on the actual event and guided tours around the site, participants. Two specially- for the site in the future, a range process. A number of comments which was approximately 1km designed postcards were of several dozen images were were left, all of which were from the event. This proved a produced: one asked people for spread out and people invited positive and constructive. very popular and useful way of their favourite place on the site to place dots on those that they helping local people understand now, the other asked for ideas for thought appropriate for Astley the scale and nature of the site, the site in the future. Participants Ainslie in the future. The images particularly those who might not were encouraged to write or draw encompassed a huge range of have accessed it previously [see their input on the cards. Over examples from other places, photos from AACEG at https:// 400 cards were completed (see including parks, nature, play, opa.cig2.canon-europe.com/s/ Appendices 3 and 4). A further buildings, activities and much cp/Ehp8BdY3YmF, please credit 25 written comments were more. The primary aim was to to Astley Ainslie Community contributed online in the days stimulate people’s imagination, Engagement Group] immediately after the event (see and leave it open to people to Appendix 5). consider whether they thought particular images would be appropriate or not.

Astley Ainslie Community Engagement Group

20 21 “Stimulating! Well organised. Good to see such a buzz.”

Public comment from Community event

Between the Ideas Day and • Vision Day: the second of the • Posters in local shops and public the Vision Day a week later, two major weekend events, places. an independent facilitator comprising a presentation of guided eight members of the the draft vision and possible • Social media feeds on Facebook Community Trust through a scenarios, opportunity for (@AstleyAinslieCommunity) facilitated workshop to review comment and discussion, and and Twitter (@AstleyAinslieCT), all feedback from the Ideas Day, panel discussion focussing on linking to other local social online comments and the schools future delivery of the vision. media feeds. sessions, and agree through The event was attended by • Online publicity via the discussion an initial draft vision around 100 people. The written Community Trust’s website (comprising things to retain, comments received can be seen www.aact.scot and e-bulletins to future uses and principles) in Appendix 6. a database of over 400 people. and two examples of possible scenarios for the site (professional Promotion of the weekend events • On-street popups in the build- responses to the draft vision) (and accompanying online up to the public events (see reflecting community aspirations. opportunities for information above). The draft vision and possible and comment) was undertaken scenarios were reviewed and through: • Media releases and articles in agreed by the Community Trust’s the local press and via local • A leaflet drop to homes organisations steering group for presentation, as throughout the area covered by drafts, at the Vision Day. the Community Trust.

22 23 4 Future vision for the site

This section of the report outlines the draft vision for the site that was presented NEW USES & CONTINUING USES at the Vision Day, together with two possible scenarios PATHS & ROUTES that were presented to demonstrate two examples COMMUNITY HUB Walking of how the vision might look Gathering space Cycling on the site in the future. Cafe Wheelchair accessible ENTERPRISE Vision Hotel Safe routes Crafts centre The vision for the future of the Restaurant Pathways Astley Ainslie is based entirely Workshops on the aspirations received from Carer’s centre HOMES the local community at the Ideas Studios Co-housing Day, schools event and online. Occupational Therapy The vision outlined in this report is unchanged from the draft HEALTH, CARE presented at the Vision Day, Housing for homeless people because the comments received & WELLBEING HUB in response to the draft were Older people’s homes overwhelmingly supportive. NHS wellbeing agencies

The vision comprises three Patient respite centre related elements: CREATIVE ARTS Hydrotherapy pool • Future uses: these are the uses that the local community aspires Gallery Therapeutic treatment to seeing at the Astley Ainslie Studio space after the hospital has closed. Children’s hospice

• Things to retain: these are Outdoor performance/event space Research centre existing uses and activities that Art therapy the local community aspires to be retained on the site. Bandstand • Overarching principles: these Music recording studio are the principles that the COMMUNITY GARDENING local community would like to & FARMING see underpinning any future NATURAL PLACES change or development on the Release the streams Allotments site, whatever the proposals. OUTDOOR LEARNING Arboretum Orchards In addition, health and wellbeing & RECREATION – and the role of nature in Enhance wildlife habitats Physic garden supporting health and wellbeing Outdoor play: bike trails, camping, - clearly emerged as being an Foraging overarching objective for the adventure play, skateboarding site’s future, irrespective of how it Beekeeping develops or changes in the future. Leisure pool Forestry Forest School

24 25 Things Principles driving Possible scenarios to retain the vision The vision, things to retain and principles (see above) are the main output from the visioning process. However, the Astley Ainslie site Biodiversity is unlikely to be large enough to accommodate all elements of the vision. Choices will have to Wildlife be made on what uses to include or keep, and which to omit or Outdoor Education remove. To give an example of how the vision could potentially The spirit of look when implemented on the David Ainslie’s bequest Green corridors within site, the spatial structure shown on this page was prepared after Health and convalescence wider network the Vision Day to illustrate how the vision might materialise on the site. It important to note that this has not yet been the subject of public review.

Health & convalescence

Inclusive Astley Ainslie Spatial Structure Greenery and trees Intergenerational activities Buildings To Keep (sunny outlook to South) Parkland. Specimen trees. Buildings To Lose Woodland and wildness. Intergenerational care Parkland Space

Principal Routes

Heart

Environmentally sustainable Areas For Possible Development

Extensions to existing Pavilions Renewable energy & History energy efficient Memories and stories. Archaeology. Buildings. Organic Special places. Landscape.

Community ownership - belonging to the people

Funding - awareness of Wildlife need for financial viability

Space. Freedom. Nature. Wildness. Views. Open sky.

26 27 Vision Day, 31 Marcy 2019

Public comments At a show of hands towards the end of the session, a clear majority on the draft vision “Need to think about “I think the community “I am very impressed of the 100 participants indicated How were this draft vision and how some land can be vision is fantastic as it by the draft vision. I that they support the Community possible scenarios received utilised for housing – on Trust pursuing Community Asset is inclusive and ensures support the idea of Transfer of all or part of the site in by the local community at the fringes of site? – in order Vision Day? The answer is: that the Astley Ainslie preserving as much as order to deliver the vision. overwhelmingly positive, with to finance community grounds are for everyone, possible the spirit of the a few questions about how it projects” not just the rich property original donor so the would be delivered given the likely value of the site and the developers.” therapeutic proposals scale of ambition. The written (community gathering comments received at the event and subsequently online can be place, community pool, seen in Appendix 6. treetop walk, priority to cycling and walking etc) absolutely match with the donor’s intention.”

28 29 5 What next?

This report demonstrates what can be achieved through a balanced community-led visioning for the future of an area of land which people cherish, with a focus on health and wellbeing. Astley Ainslie Community Trust is grateful to the Scottish Government’s “Making Places” funding for enabling this process. The Informing future • Retention of trees, woodland, of greenspace, but would need question now is: how does 3. Continue to co-ordinate awareness amongst anyone who green spaces and the natural careful consideration. activities with the Astley Ainslie wishes to play a part in the Trust. planning policy environment is of paramount the local community move Community Engagement Group importance. • A general aspiration for avoiding from vision to delivery? to ensure that the future disposal 6. Continue to encourage public In the first instance, the purpose through vehicular traffic and participation in the site’s future of the community engagement and development of the site • The focus on health and keeping vehicles to the edges The Community Trust has reflects community aspirations. through communication and was to co-design a vision for the wellbeing was supported, with a of the site as far as possible, volunteered to continue to work dissemination of knowledge about future of the Astley Ainslie site, preference for public rather than and minimising parking. in partnership with others, taking the site, ideas for its care and which can be used by the City In addition, the Community private activities (for example, the lead where necessary, to Trust will independently future development, and models Council to inform preparation community gardening rather • Supporting public access deliver the community vision of good practice nationally and of the Place Brief and contribute than allotments). through the site along both outlined in this report. There will seek to: internationally. to NHS Lothian’s process of north-south and east-west axes, be a number of actions involved disposing of the site. • Peaceful outdoor public spaces including safe routes to local 4. Approach potential funding for the Community Trust with and delivery partners, such as were generally favoured over schools. relevant partners, with the aim It is important to note that the Scottish Land Fund and other spaces for noisier outdoor of being part of a co-ordinated the draft vision was positively (It is worthy of note that these funders, to secure support for activities. future plan for the Astley Ainslie received by the local community aspirations are not dissimilar delivery of the community vision to deliver the community vision – including the range of potential • Retention of the open aspect of to the results of a questionnaire and the Community Trust’s role outlined in this report: uses, things to retain and southern parts of the site was survey undertaken by the Astley in that. This report is intended in overarching principles. supported. Ainslie Community Engagement 1. Encourage the City Council to part to support any future funding Group in 2017 (see Appendix use this document as the basis for application a feasibility study and A number of specific points • There was a general preference 7), which the City Council may future planning policy, through business plan for Community emerged through the community for new buildings to be of also wish to take account of as it a process of continuing public Asset Transfer, putting forward a engagement which we suggest modest size and ecologically- prepares the Place Brief.) consultation and for the approval community vision for the Astley should be translated into the Place friendly or timber construction, of the Council, to ensure that the Ainslie site that fits with local/ Brief and site disposal process: with a range of views for and It is suggested that the City community aspirations for the site regional plans and has a positive against the development Council should require any future are respected in future proposals. impact on public health and of taller buildings on the development on the site to comply social/environmental wellbeing site. Development of new with the vision and principles 2. Continue to work with NHS (and, indirectly, regeneration and buildings higher than those expressed in this document, Lothian as it moves towards economic development). currently on the site could through a process of public disposal of the site, including provide advantages in terms consultation and for the approval involvement as a potential 5. Strengthen the Community of achieving a viable quantum of the Council, to ensure that masterplanning and developer Trust itself as an organisation and of development without these community aspirations are procurement partner. continue to fundraise and raise unduly reducing the amount reflected in future plans for the site.

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