Edinburgh local plan: 'A degree of nimbyism is to be expected'

IT is inevitable that the public inquiry into the Edinburgh local plan in September will be a lengthy one. With 650 groups and individuals having already lodged objections on a wide range of issues, all will get an opportunity to have their say.

And painful though it may be for the council to go through it, the consultation process is an essential element of drawing up a detailed blueprint for the city's future. The few small tweaks that the council has made in the run-up – after taking into account the strength of objections to some elements – are hardly likely to shorten the process.

Spreading student accommodation across the city makes sense, to prevent further developments in areas with dense student populations such as Marchmont and Bruntsfield, but the council can expect some opposition.

The unfair perception held by many is that students contribute little to a community as they are itinerant and spend all their time partying. So a degree of nimbyism is to be expected, as was demonstrated recently in McDonald Road where local residents successfully fought off plans to develop student-only flats.

Those living close to Powderhall will naturally be disappointed to learn that the out-of-date waste facility will remain open beyond 2015. But with no solution yet agreed for the disposal of future waste the council has little choice but to retain it until new facilities are built.

Similarly those living in the Portobello area will be dismayed that the council appears to have done a U-turn over plans to create a new civic area on the promenade. There is certain to be an outcry over plans to reclassify the land as suitable for building housing on and although there will be no shortage of willing buyers in such a desirable location it is to expected that anyone seeking planning permission will get anything but a smooth ride.

On the general planning front there will be concerns in many areas that the council looks set to ease restrictions on the amount of open space required around individual developments. To reduce the amount of open space by two thirds at a stroke does appear rather excessive.

While builders will no doubt welcome the opportunity to cram more homes into a site it appears this change in policy will result in more clutter and less visually appealing developments.

But the whole inquiry process will not be as democratic as it appears. As this is a local public inquiry the reporters appointed by the Executive cannot make rulings, only recommendations, leaving the way clear for the council to still do as it pleases. But at least it will have been forced to listen to all opinions and have a clear indication on the depth of feeling on local issues that will impact on communities for many years to come.