Waterfront to cultivate room for allotments

AT least 67 new allotments should be created as part of the massive regeneration of Leith's waterfront, according to council chiefs.

A blueprint for 16,000 new homes at Leith Docks was submitted to the council last year in what is the biggest planning application ever to come before the local authority.

The 30-year plan also features a range of leisure, retail and commercial developments, including a possible new concert hall.

In a response to the planning application, the council's parks development officer, Keith Logie, said: "It is now widely recognised that gardening provides opportunities for a more physically active lifestyle, is conducive to mental and physical wellbeing and provides the opportunity for adoption of a healthier diet.

"Current allotment provision in the city is approximately 1200 plots on 21 sites.

"These are currently fully let with a waiting list of more than 1000 people.

"If the same level of provision were applied to the application area and the population was assumed to be about 25,000 people, this would give rise to the need for 67.5 plots, disregarding the waiting list."