Edinburgh City Centre Transformation | Strategy Catalyst Areas 4 Catalyst Areas 50 51 Edinburgh City Centre Transformation | Strategy Catalyst Areas 4 Catalyst Areas The catalyst areas show how These areas have been identified the layers and interventions as critical to the achievement can combine to deliver of the outcomes sought by the transformational change across Strategy. However, the specific the city centre. There are six proposals shown are examples defined areas described over the of what could be achieved in following pages, each one building these locations and are not fixed on the existing characteristics and or designed plans for these supporting present and future locations. Detailed proposals will uses. Each of the six catalyst areas be developed for these locations in explores the existing situation, close consultation with Edinburgh outlines the strategic approach World Heritage and other relevant and highlights the interventions stakeholders to ensure the that will be combined, relating designs of the interventions are them to specific locations within appropriate and in keeping with each area. the World Heritage Site. Catalyst Areas 52 Haymarket | Morrison Street Lothian Road | Tollcross Junction New Town | Princes Street Old Town | Victoria Street Waverley - Calton Road | Waverley Bridge Innovation Mile | Teviot Place 53 Edinburgh City Centre Transformation | Strategy Catalyst Areas 4.1 Haymarket The west of the city centre, between Lothian in the area, as well as a more established Road and Haymarket, provides the focus urban realm. These routes provide a ‘hidden’ for this catalyst area. It is a key arrival permeability through the area that allows a ‘gateway’ into the city centre from the west variety of routes to be explored. However, and provides interchange between rail, tram, some spaces lack character and identity and bus and taxi as well as walking and cycling. are not immediately apparent. This could The area is a focus for significant financial, be remedied through effective wayfinding, legal and associated support services interpretation and artwork strategies. employment, located around Exchange Morrison Street provides a key pedestrian Crescent, Morrison Street and Rutland route from the station area into the city, but Square/Lothian Road. The area continues to it is dominated by vehicles to the detriment grow rapidly with a number of major future of the considerable number of commuting developments proposed. pedestrians. The Haymarket area has a rich transport The West Approach Road allows private and industrial heritage which remains vehicle and bus access but is also a an important part of its identity; this is significant barrier to the north–south illustrated by the restoration and associated movement of people between Viewforth/ investment around the Union Canal and Fountainbridge and the West End/ Fountainbridge areas. Haymarket. Haymarket is connected by a network of pedestrian routes and spaces, some introduced through recent development Haymarket context © Crown Copyright and database right 2019. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100023420. Key Streets Existing Buildings Tram Route Green Space 54 Key challenges and opportunities identified within this area: • A lack of unity and legibility within the area. • Strong interchange between public transport and Navigation between key arrival points such as bike at Haymarket, but there are few connected Haymarket and employment areas are not clear safe cycling routes in the area • A network of spaces and routes that could be better • The main routes through the area are dominated promoted and connected by traffic and vehicle focused infrastructure, for example Morrison Street, West Approach Road, • Severance issues across the West Approach Road Semple Street and Haymarket and at key junctions • Increasing public transport is helping to reduce • Limited good quality public spaces, which lack general traffic volumes, creating an opportunity to comfort and do not encourage dwell, such as reconfigure traffic movement across the area Festival Square • There is an opportunity to build on the rich history • Pedestrian infrastructure could be significantly of the area to create a more cohesive positive improved, for example between Haymarket and identity, reflecting the rich history of the area Exchange Crescent/Morrison Street and at the east end of Dalry Road 55 Edinburgh City Centre Transformation | Strategy Catalyst Areas Strategy This catalyst area looks to build live and travel in the area. Effective on the existing public transport and legible pedestrian links to arrival into the city centre from the other transport modes and key west while improving pedestrian areas within the West End of the connectivity, permeability and city will be delivered. Permeability interchange between various will be improved by addressing transport modes. barriers to movement. Car use will be reduced, which will improve the area for people who Haymarket Strategic Plan © Crown Copyright and database right 2019. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100023420. Boulevard Street Potential Tram Extension Planned Development Canal Permeability Active Travel Route Transport Hub Key Building Station Entrance Existing Tram Route Public Realm Improvement Community Space 56 Key principles Haymarket Exchange Sq. Station Conference Sq. Morrison Street Exchange 2 Dewar Place to Lothian Morrison St. Road Haymarket to Station Lauriston to Place Lauriston Haymarket Place Station West Approach Road Fountainbridge Development West Approach Road Union Canal Union Canal Haymarket Interchange Promotion and development of Integration of development through through block pedestrian routes placemaking opportunities • Better connections to the • Enhanced lighting and • Reallocation of road space employment areas at Morrison wayfinding to provide a safer and more Street, Exchange Crescent and comfortable environment for • A review of open space/public Lothian Road people travelling by foot or on space bike, for example Morrison Street, • Allowance for a future tram route • Enhancement of pedestrian Semple Street and Haymarket along Morrison Street creating a connections towards the city • Public realm improvements to second cross-city-centre tram link centre and within the local area key routes enhancing the quality • Improved bus and coach of the environment, particularly interchange/termination Morrison Street, including de- cluttering, surface treatments, sustainable drainage systems, lighting, wayfinding and tree planting • Reinforcing place and identity through storytelling and interpretation opportunities Existing Location: Morrison Street/West Approach Road Junction Haymarket Development Area Active frontage narrow 3 lanes and cycle in loading bays narrow pavement middle of road pavement Strategy Haymarket Development Active frontage pavement integrated with open 3 lanes shared with wider pavement space outside new development tram with integrated loading bays 57 Edinburgh City Centre Transformation | Strategy Catalyst Areas The strategy for this catalyst area includes: • Reinforcing Haymarket’s function as a key across West Approach Road wherever possible interchange across all modes of travel with an • Introduction of coherent wayfinding to city improved experience for all users destinations while also helping to create a more • Introduction of a high-quality pedestrian cohesive district, promoting links between office, connection between Haymarket and Lothian Road retail, heritage and residential areas along Morrison Street, including improved public • A review of open space to best serve local needs realm and the reallocation of road space to the • Promotion of opportunities to highlight the benefit of pedestrians history and historic uses of the area through • A review of the junction at Haymarket to the benefit interpretation, public space design and artwork of people on bike and foot, and the development of • Allowance for a possible tram route along Morrison a place-led public realm scheme Street as part of a wider tram expansion • A review of the existing one-way loop on • Using space on the West Approach Road as an Torphichen Street/Morrison Street and the arrival for coach/bus with enhanced pedestrian introduction of a safe cycling route connecting from links towards the city centre Haymarket towards Rutland Square • The promotion of safe and legible connections Allocation of Streetspace • Reallocation of traffic lanes at Morrison • Full implementation of current Active Street and West Approach Road Travel Action Programme (ATAP) Public Transport Services • Rerouting of selected cross-city services to • Allowance for second cross-city-centre ‘kiss’ city centre tram link connecting Nicolson Square to • New public transport interchanges at West Haymarket End – Haymarket/West Approach Road • Enhanced bus priority through optimized traffic signal plan Place • Maximise the potential of public spaces • New art work and interpretation, focusing by creating a network – includes on the unique heritage of the area opportunities across the West Approach Road and around the Union Canal City Operations and Management • Consider shopmobility aid scheme at • Integration of Haymarket within a wider Haymarket coach management strategy • Expansion and promotion of shared mobility services including bike hire 58 Current Short term • Removal of railings and street clutter • Temporary planters increasing the pavement width • Introduction of wayfinding