Issues Report

SESplan MONITORING STATEMENT VERSION 7 CONTENTS 1. PURPOSE ......................................................................................... 1 2. REVIEW OF EXISTING PLANS ........................................................ 2 EDINBURGH AND THE LOTHIANS STRUCTURE PLAN 2015 ................................... 2 FIFE STRUCTURE PLAN 2006 - 2026 .......................................................................... 6 SCOTTISH BORDERS STRUCTURE PLAN 2001 - 2018 ............................................. 8 3. MONITORING THE CHANGES ...................................................... 11 POPULATION ............................................................................................................. 11 HOUSING .................................................................................................................... 14 ECONOMY .................................................................................................................. 20 TRANSPORT ............................................................................................................... 30 INFRASTRUCTURE .................................................................................................... 36 HAZARDS ................................................................................................................... 41 MINERALS .................................................................................................................. 43 WASTE ........................................................................................................................ 45 CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY ............................................................................ 47 4. CROSS BOUNDARY LINKAGES ................................................... 51 5. CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE MAIN ISSUES REPORT ................ 54 6. INDICATORS .................................................................................. 58 7. BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS ...................................................... 59 APPENDICES A EDINBURGH AND LOTHIANS STRUCTURE PLAN REVIEW B BACKGROUND INFORMATION C INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS 1. PURPOSE 1.1 SESplan has been formed as the Strategic Development Plan Authority (SDPA) tasked with the preparation of the South East Scotland Strategic Development Plan (SDP). The Main Issues Report (MIR) has been produced as the first step in the Plan preparation process and is required to be accompanied by a Monitoring Statement (MS). 1.2 The purpose of a MS is to monitor and report the principal changes to the physical, economic, social and environmental characteristics of the SDP area since the existing SDP was prepared. As the MIR is the initial step in the preparation of the first SESplan SDP, comparisons are instead drawn with the existing approved set of structure plans covering Edinburgh and the Lothians (to 2015), Fife (to 2026) and the Scottish Borders (to 2018). 1.3 This MS: Assesses the performance of previous structure plan strategies, whether they have been realised, and identifies any obstacles that have impeded delivery; and Sets out a framework of indicators for monitoring the performance of the SDP. 1.4 The MIR is accompanied by a package of documents including this MS, Technical Notes relating to Housing, Employment Land, Transport and the Green Network, a Strategic Environmental Assessment, the SESplan Urban Capacity Study 2009 and a Housing Needs and Demands Assessment 2010. These accompanying documents are available on our website www.sesplan.gov.uk. 1 2. REVIEW OF EXISTING PLANS 2.1 The approved structure plans covering Edinburgh and the Lothians (2015), Fife (2026) and the Scottish Borders (2018) will remain in force until the new SDP is approved. The starting point for the SDP preparation process is therefore to review and assess the performance of existing structure plan strategies. 2.2 By undertaking these reviews as the first stage in the SDP preparation process, gaps in the existing strategic planning coverage and those elements of the existing strategies that are no longer considered relevant can be identified. EDINBURGH AND THE LOTHIANS STRUCTURE PLAN 2015 2.3 The approved Structure Plan sets out a strategy for the development of Edinburgh and the Lothians to 2015. The key aim is to provide for the development needs of Edinburgh and the Lothians in a sustainable manner. The principal element of the strategy is to direct growth to fifteen Core Development Areas (CDAs) (see Figure 1 below) where infrastructure capacity exists or where the provision of new infrastructure would be cost effective. The priority of the Structure Plan is to re-use urban brownfield land and contain the outward spread of Edinburgh through the maintenance of a Green Belt. Figure 1: Key Elements of the Edinburgh and Lothians Strategy Economic Core Development Area Housing (Units) Development (ha) Edinburgh Waterfront* 1,700 - Newbridge/Kirkliston/Ratho 1,000 - Rest of Edinburgh Urban Area* 1,100 - Edinburgh Urban Fringe 400 - Musselburgh 450 Wallyford 1,000 Blindwells 1,600 East Lothian CDAs Haddington 750 40 ha North Berwick 500 Dunbar 500 A7/A68/Borders RailwayLine Corridor 1,350 Midlothian CDAs A701 Corridor 850 50 ha Livingston and the Almond Valley* 3,000 60ha Winchburgh/East Broxburn/Uphall* 3,000 45ha* Armadale* 1,000 50ha * Figures are minimum requirements as outlined in the approved Edinburgh and Lothians Structure Plan Source – Edinburgh and Lothians Structure Plan 2015 2.4 In recognition of the lead in time required to bring the CDAs forward, the strategy also envisages extensions to existing settlements to provide the necessary housing requirement over the plan period. 2 2.5 Outside of the CDAs and within environmentally sensitive locations, areas where development was to be restrained were identified at rural West Edinburgh, throughout the villages and small settlements in rural East Lothian and Midlothian, Bonnyrigg, Tranent, Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton, and at Linlithgow/north-west West Lothian. 2.6 The key findings from an assessment of the existing Structure Plan are highlighted below (see Appendix A and C of this MS and the Edinburgh and the Lothians Annual Housing Monitor 2008 for further details). Housing As detailed in the structure plan Annual Housing Monitor 2008, the supply of effective housing fell to 81% of the overall housing requirement; however, a decision was taken by the member authorities, in the light of the economic downturn, not to bring forward additional land as this was unlikely to have an effect on build rates. There has been success in bringing forward brownfield sites with 73% of completions on such land. However, and particularly in Edinburgh, this has resulted in the development of high density flats with a lack of family housing. It was anticipated that 30% of sites which were identified as constrained would be developed over the plan period. 29% of such sites have been developed, demonstrating that the assumptions used were robust. Affordable housing needs are being met largely through the implementation of SESplan member authorities‟s council house build programmes. The key constraint on the delivery of the existing allocations is the provision of appropriate infrastructure including transport, sewerage and education. Economic Development The strategy has been successful in ensuring an adequate supply of employment land across Edinburgh, East, Mid and West Lothian although there has been some local variation from this. For example, the take up of employment land in Midlothian fell between 2003 - 2005 due to industrial sites being at or near capacity, significant infrastructure constraints and time taken to receive consents and develop sites. The predominance of the allocation of large sites combined with demand for smaller units has resulted in difficulties in achieving the critical mass of investment to service such sites. At present there are ample consents and allocations in place to meet projected demand for office space. 3 Policy ECON5 (West Edinburgh) lacks flexibility and did not anticipate the revision of the West Edinburgh Planning Framework (WEPF) which now supports growth in this part of Edinburgh. Transport As detailed within Appendix C there has been progress in bringing forward the strategic transport investment proposals although this is not evenly distributed throughout the Edinburgh and the Lothians area. Schemes such as the M9 Spur, A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass and Phase 1 of the Waverley Rail Station improvements have been completed with park and ride facilities also opened at Hermiston, Ingliston, Straiton and Sheriffhall. However, projects such as Gogar Interchange, upgrading/improving junctions along the M8 and M9 and associated park and ride facilities and the completion of Phase 1A of the tram are still to be implemented. The Borders Railway and Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Link projects have now commenced. The City of Edinburgh Council also considered the introduction of a congestion charging scheme into Central Edinburgh. The scheme was proposed to help cut traffic congestion, and raise funds to help pay for major public transport improvements, but was abandoned following committee in December 2004. Retailing In general terms the various Local Plans across the SESplan area have succeeded in implementing the strategy requirements. Measuring the performance of the Structure Plan strategy is difficult to calculate as the availability of data and research on this area is limited. There is some evidence that

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