The City of Edinburgh Council has called for input on two major consultations on the future of transport and development in the Capital.

The council is seeking views on the draft City Mobility Plan, a ten-year strategy for creating accessible, affordable and environmentally-friendly travel in and around Edinburgh, and the Choices for City Plan 2030, which sets out options for the sustainable management of future development during a time of major change.

The two draft plans are closely linked and are being consulted on at the same time to ensure any new development helps people to make healthier choices, improving quality of life through enhanced provision for walking and cycling and better links to public transport.

Over the next eight weeks, the public can share comments and opinions on both by taking part in the consultations online, while they can meet the teams involved and find out more about plans at several drop-in events being held across the city.

Calling on residents to take part in the consultations, Council Leader Councillor Adam McVey said: "These ambitious plans to transform our approach to both transport and development in the Capital are essential to our ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030, to vastly improve the city's environment and to create a healthier, fairer and more inclusive place for everyone.

"We're about to embark upon a period of significant change, where we simply must meet the challenges posed by population growth and a climate emergency head-on. We have it within our power to drive our city forward, to adapt and thrive despite the pressures we face. If we act now, with pace, we will realise the future Edinburgh and its residents deserve."

Depute Council Leader Councillor Cammy Day added: "These proposed changes will affect everyone who lives in, works in and visits Edinburgh, so it's only right that we continue to have a conversation with our residents, businesses and other stakeholders about how our city grows and changes to meet future needs.


"We want everyone to play their part in these momentous decisions and I look forward to engaging with the public on these two, inextricably linked strategies, which will have a game-changing impact on Edinburgh's development."

The draft City Mobility Plan was approved for consultation by the Transport and Environment Committee on 16 January and will replace the Council's Local Transport Strategy 2014 - 2019. The plan sets out new policy measures over the next ten years focusing on public transport provision, improved cycling, walking and electric vehicle infrastructure and reducing the volume of polluting traffic in the city. These draw on feedback gathered during public engagement carried out in 2018.

On 22 January members of the Planning Committee agreed to consult on the Choices for City Plan 2030. The document sets out options for how to make the best use of land for future development while also addressing how the Council could tackle short term lets, planning for and building more affordable housing and managing the growth of student housing, amongst other issues.

Both strategies envision the Capital in a decade's time, when residents will live in homes they can afford and won't necessarily need a car to move around, with policies addressing Edinburgh's rising population and the wider climate emergency while managing the growth and success of the city.

To help the public have their say on both sets of plans and to speak to experts, several drop-in events will be held on:

• Saturday, 8 February; 11am - 4pm in The Wash House, 3 Adelphi Grove, Portobello, EH15 1AP

• Monday, 10 February; 1pm - 7pm in the Urban Room, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, EH8 8BG

• Thursday, 13 February; 4pm - 7.30pm in Kirkliston Parish Hall, The Square, EH29 9AS

• Wednesday, 26 February; 4pm - 7pm in YMCA, 1 Junction Place, EH6 5JA

• Wednesday, 4 March; 4pm - 7pm in Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Rd, EH4 5EG

• Thursday, 19 March; 1pm - 8.30pm in St Bride's Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace, EH11 2DZ

There will also be a series of consultation hub surgeries where help will be on offer, with one-to-one support to complete the online consultation for Choices for City Plan 2030 specifically. These will be on:

• Monday, 10 February; 1pm - 7pm in the Urban Room, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, EH8 8BG

• Monday, 24 February; 4pm - 7pm in Piershill Library, 30 Piersfield Terrace, EH8 7BQ

• Monday, 2 March; 4pm - 7pm in Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street, EH11 1BG

• Monday, 9 March; 4pm - 7pm in Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road, EH6 4AE

• Wednesday, 11 March; 4pm - 7pm in Drumbrae Library Hub, 81 Drum Brae Drive, EH4 7FE.

Next steps for the City Mobility Plan and Choices for City Plan 2030

For the City Mobility Plan, the results of this public consultation, alongside a comprehensive travel behaviour survey to be completed by the end of February, will form the basis of a finalised plan to be brought to Transport and Environment Committee later this year supported by a delivery plan packaging and phasing the implementation of actions and policy measures.

Consultation responses to the Choices for City Plan 2030 will help inform the proposed City Plan 2030, which is due to be published by the Council in August. It will then be published to allow for representations to be made after which it will be formally examined by the Scottish Government before the Council can consider adopting it.

(MH/JG)