New Brunstane Farm: Residents urge developer to cease work over wildlife concerns

Locals have expressed concerns that vegetation management work being undertaken by developers Dandara is disturbing wildlife that is nesting at the New Brunstane Farm site. Locals contend that the work will affect skylarks, which are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Last week, Dandara told the Edinburgh Evening News that an ecological walkover was completed earlier this month ahead of additional tree removal which ‘confirmed that no active nests were present within the areas where works were scheduled’.

However, this has been disputed by residents, including Rosie Nimmo, who played a recording of birds in the fields from the site as she told a full council meeting: “I went for a walk there yesterday, the place is moving with skylarks.”

Residents are concerned with the work taking place at the site. | Laurence Winram

Ms Nimmo was speaking as Councillor Kate Campbell brought a motion to City of Edinburgh Council to ask officers to take urgent action over the site.

Cllr Campbell said: “I feel like the council does have a role here to make sure that there is oversight and to make sure that we are protecting the wildlife here. I think the other big question is council officers have been told by Dandara that this is in preparation for development, but the site is also for sale. There's an ambiguity layer.

“I think it would be helpful to understand what is actually happening, because if the land is up for sale again, and it's not likely to be developed in the short to medium term, then it does seem like a terrible thing to do these harms to the environment, harming the skylarks, harming the biodiversity, when perhaps the site will lie undeveloped for a little while longer.”

A listing for the site can be found on commercial real estate website JLL UK. Planning permission was granted over a decade ago for more than 600 units on the site of former farmland.

The field at New Brunstane is popular with dog walkers. Residents are concerned about work taking place in the coming weeks | Laurence Winram

In a statement, Lee Ogg, managing director at Dandara Scotland, said that the company understood local concerns about activity at New Brunstane. He added the developer is carrying out work with ‘careful consideration for wildlife and in line with relevant environmental legislation and expert ecological advice’.

He continued: “Vegetation management at this stage is limited to flailing only. Before any work began, a breeding bird survey was carried out by a qualified ecologist on 22 February, with a further ecological assessment completed earlier this month ahead of additional works. On both occasions, no active bird nests were identified within the areas scheduled for work.

“In line with ecological guidance and legal requirements, further checks will continue to be undertaken by a qualified ecologist before any additional vegetation clearance takes place. If active nests are identified, appropriate protection measures, including exclusion zones, will be put in place and works adjusted accordingly.”

He added: “These works form part of the wider programme of remediation of historic mine workings and infrastructure delivery needed to prepare the consented site for development. As is typical for a project of this scale, a range of delivery options is being considered, with serviced parcels currently being marketed and arrangements for the future delivery of housing continuing to be progressed.”