Item no

EDI N BVRG H+ Report no THE CITY OF COUNCIL

Future Expansion of Park & Ride Serving Edinburgh

Planning Committee I October 2009

1 Purpose of report

1.I To advise Committee of the planning implications of a recent report to the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee on ‘Future Expansion of Park & Ride Serving Edinburgh’.

2 Summary

2.1 This report sets out the planning implications of the report to the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee on 22 September 2009 on the findings of the study ‘Future Expansion of Park & Ride Serving Edinburgh’.

2.2 Four potential sites were considered as part of the study: Hermiston Park and Ride Extension, Lasswade Road, Road and Hermiston Gait. The consultants identified the expansion of the existing Hermiston Park and Ride as the top priority. The sites should be safeguarded in the new Local Development Plan.

3 Main report

Background

3.1 Consultants Halcrow were appointed in 2006 to look at further Park and Ride provision around Edinburgh. This resulted in the ‘Park and Ride Feasibility Study’ (April 2007). The information gathered in the feasibility study was refined and reported upon in the ‘Site Selection Report’ (October 2008) which assessed a range of potential sites and identified the four most promising locations. These four options were assessed in more detail in Halcrow’s report ‘Future Expansion of Park and Ride Serving Edinburgh’ (May 2009) which highlighted a number of potential locations for future sites within each of the four broad areas. Consideration of the planning context of each potential site was included in the assessment process.

3.2 The report to Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee on 22 September 2009 summarised the findings of the ‘Future Expansion of Park and Ride Serving Edinburgh’ report, sought approval to progress the preferred option (Hermiston expansion) to the detailed design and application for planning permission stage and recommended the safeguarding of two further

1 identified sites (Lasswade Road and Hermiston Gait). The report has been referred to Planning Committee for information.

Planning Context

3.3 The Edinburgh and the Lothians Structure Plan 2015 supports Edinburgh’s ring of strategic park and ride sites. It required land to be safeguarded for sites at , Hermiston, Straiton and Todshill/Ferniehill. These sites and others at Ferrytoll and have all been developed. Future safeguarding requirements in line with the Local and/or Regional Transport Strategy are supported by Structure Plan policy TRANI.

3.4 Any planning applications for extended or new Park and Ride sites would be assessed in terms of relevant development plan policies and any other material cons idera t ions .

3.5 The consultants’ report and decision of the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee may have implications for proposals for alternative uses on the site identified for park and ride purposes. However, these proposals/safeguards have not yet been subject to public consultation through the development plan process or the preparation of other planning guidance. Until then, it is likely only limited weight could be given to them as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. There is a current application for retail development on the site of the proposed safeguard at Hermiston Gait.

Future Safeguarding

3.6 The Rural West Edinburgh Local Plan was adopted in June 2006 and the Edinburgh City Local Plan has completed the inquiry stage and is likely to be adopted in 2010. The preparation of the new Local Development Plan (LDP) therefore provides the earliest opportunity to safeguard future Park and Ride sites. The Council’s Development Plan Scheme sets out timescales for the new LDP with the Main Issues Report due to be published by May 2011. The ‘Future Expansion of Park & Ride Serving Edinburgh’ report and the decision of the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee on 22 September 2009 will inform the preparation of the new LDP. The issue of additional park and ride sites may also be a consideration in the new Strategic Development Plan, preparation of which is underway.

Mitigation Measures

3.7 The potential sites at Hermiston and Lasswade Road are currently within the Edinburgh Green Belt. Subject to the sites being acceptable in principle, mitigation in the form of landscaping in order to minimise visual impact will be required. It should be noted that the layouts provided in Appendix 2 of the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee report are indicative only. Landscaping will be subject to further work at the detailed design stage prior to the submission of any future planning applications.

4 Financial Implications 2 4.1 There are no financial implications arising directly from this report.

5 Environmental Impact

5.1 Environmental screening of all proposed sites has been undertaken. The conclusions were that the magnitude and scope of environmental impacts are unlikely to warrant Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

6 Conclusions

6.1 The report ‘Future Expansion of Park & Ride Serving Edinburgh’ identifies potential locations to add to the existing provision of Park and Ride sites serving Edinburgh. The principle of increasing this provision is unlikely to raise any planning concerns. However the safeguarding of sites and their detailed design will require further consideration. The sites should be safeguarded in the new Local Development Plan.

7 Recommendations

7.1 It is recommended that the Committee:

notes the findings of the report ‘Future Expansion of Park & Ride Serving Edinburgh’ referred to it by the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee; agrees that the safeguarding of the sites for park and ride identified in the report will be considered through the preparation of the new Local Development Plan.

Dave Anderson Director of City Development

3 Appendices None

ContactlteVEmail James Seabury, Tel: 0131 529 3555 e-mail: [email protected] Wards affected All

Single Outcome National outcome 1) “We live in a Scotland that is the most attractive place for Agreement doing business in Europe”.

Local outcome 11) “Implementation of the measures in The Local Transport Strategy” http://k&v.edinburqh.qov.uk/internet/transport/Local Transport Strateqv/Fin alltsMarch2007.pdf

Local outcome 15) “In partnership with either SEStran and/or neighbouring local authorities, develop and bring forward delivery of a high quality rapid orbital bus service in the City Bypass corridor, linking to major edge of town developments especially in West Edinburgh and the construction of Hillend (Lothianburn) Park & Ride and associated bus priority measures.”

Background 1. Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee Report, Future Papers Expansion of Park & Serving Edinburgh, 22 September 2009 2. Future Expansion of Park & Ride Serving Edinburgh, May 2009. 3. Site Selection Report, October 2008. 4. Park & Ride Feasibility Study, April 2007.

JS/FWPLANCOM/Park and Ride 22 September 2009

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