Edinburgh Design Guidance January 2020 Foreword Edinburgh Design Guidance - building our future Edinburgh is internationally renowned for its stunning architecture, beautiful green spaces, World Heritage Site status, art and literature. Topography and landscape have massively influenced built form in the city. There is the medieval walled Old Town on a slope and the plateaued Neo-Classical New Town. This is in addition to the city’s rolling tenemented and terraced stone suburbs of the 19th and 20th Centuries that were carefully planned by ambitious city councils. Pioneering Town Planner Patrick Geddes placed importance on spirit of place, landform and locality (genius loci), influencing 20th Century city architect Ebenezer MacRae’s work both in the Old Town and in the later suburban housing estates. These have further reinforced the unique qualities of the city we have today, a city with two world heritage sites that consistently ranks as one of the best places in the UK to live, work and study. Respecting and building on this legacy is important for our economic and social well-being as the city’s current strength owes much to its inspiring past foresight and today we can build tomorrow’s heritage. Building well must become a reality that we can pass on to our children and theirs. We all need to grasp this challenge. In the context of an expanding city, this is something we should be addressing. The Edinburgh Design Guidance will play its part. To achieve this we must all work to the same ambition. Councillors, planning officers and developers must all have the same aims for the city. We should be creating developments that we are proud of, and not just adding another suburban extension to the last one. We need to create new and sustainable city suburbs and employment areas that are places which reflect and build upon the city’s rich architectural and design qualities. They need to be places in their own right being both well connected and of an appropriate density to help support walking, cycling and public transport to help maintain the compact character of Edinburgh. As society changes, the city too is entering a new era of change and development. There is an opportunity for us all to play a part in creating an urban legacy for future generations. This guidance supplements and reinforces the Edinburgh Local Development Plan and is a tool to be used by everyone to work together for good city building and in striving to achieve an inspirational city which meets 21st Century needs. I would like to thank all those who have been part of this latest update. Councillor Neil Gardiner Convener of Planning Contents Edinburgh Design Guidance ................................................................................ 1 2.9 Mix of uses ............................................................................................................. 81 2.10 Daylight, sunlight, privacy and outlook ............................................................... 82 2.11 Housing mix and size, and supporting facilities ................................................... 86 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 2 2.12 Purpose built homes for rent ................................................................................ 89 Policy context ................................................................................................................ 3 2.13 Community safety ................................................................................................. 91 Edinburgh ...................................................................................................................... 4 2.14 Waste Management .............................................................................................. 92 The Challenge ................................................................................................................ 6 Promoting good design ................................................................................................. 7 3. Designing places: landscape, biodiversity and the water environment ....... 95 3.1 Green infrastructure and green/blue networks ...................................................... 96 1. Context, placemaking and design ................................................................... 8 3.2 Publicly accessible open space .............................................................................. 100 1.1 Appraising the site and context .............................................................................. 9 3.3 Private open space ................................................................................................. 104 1.2 City skyline, tall buildings and protected views ..................................................... 17 3.4 Biodiversity ............................................................................................................ 106 1.3 Assessments and statement ................................................................................... 24 3.5 Trees ....................................................................................................................... 113 1.4 Coordinate development ........................................................................................ 26 3.6 Planting .................................................................................................................. 115 1.5 Density .................................................................................................................... 30 3.7 Hard landscape....................................................................................................... 118 1.6 Incorporate existing views ..................................................................................... 35 3.8 Water environment ................................................................................................. 120 1.7 Incorporate natural and landscape features ........................................................... 36 1.8 Incorporate existing buildings and built features .................................................. 38 4. Designing streets: Edinburgh Street Design Guidance ................................. 125 1.9 Incorporate Art in public spaces ............................................................................. 40 4.1 Introduction to the Edinburgh Street Design Guidance .......................................... 126 4.2 Guiding Principles .................................................................................................. 130 2. Designing places: buildings ........................................................................... 43 4.3 Street Pattern/Structure ........................................................................................ 133 2.1 Height and form ...................................................................................................... 44 4.4 Edinburgh Street Framework ................................................................................. 135 2.2 Scale and proportions ............................................................................................ 46 4.5 Levels of Design intervention ................................................................................. 139 2.3 Position of buildings on site .................................................................................. 47 4.6 Design principles ................................................................................................... 141 2.4 Design, integration and quantity of parking .......................................................... 53 4.7 Quality Audit .......................................................................................................... 155 2.5 Environmental protection ....................................................................................... 67 Frequently Asked Questions .......................................................................................... 156 2.6 Minimise energy use .............................................................................................. 69 Appendix A: Information required for submission with a planning application ........... 158 2.7 Materials and detailing .......................................................................................... 70 Appendix B: Edinburgh Street Design Guidance Detailed Design Manual and Index .. 163 2.8 Adaptability ........................................................................................................... 80 Appendix C: Protected views - Detailed guidance on the landmark features ............... 182 Edinburgh Design Guidance How does it relate to other guidance? Other planning guidance is available including - Student Housing; Communications infrastructure; and Outdoor Advertising and Sponsorship. This document is part of a suite of non-statutory Edinburgh also has a number of site/area specific planning guidance, includingDevelopment Briefs. planning guidance which interpret the policies set out in the Local Development Plan. It is important that, where applicable, these are read in conjunction Further information with one another. For example, when designing a new If you require any further information or clarification, please visit our website athttp://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/ building in a conservation area, reference should be info/20013/planning_and_building or contact the Planning Helpdesk on 0131 529 3550. made to this guidance