Plans for Edinburgh's George Street would be fitting for capital of independent EU state – Angus Robertson

Edinburgh’s cityscape is heading for major improvements. If you haven’t yet seen it, take a look at the animation for proposed changes to George Street.
An artist's impression of the proposed plans for Edinburgh's George Street (Picture: City of Edinburgh Council/PA Wire)An artist's impression of the proposed plans for Edinburgh's George Street (Picture: City of Edinburgh Council/PA Wire)
An artist's impression of the proposed plans for Edinburgh's George Street (Picture: City of Edinburgh Council/PA Wire)

On a 3D fly-through you can see how one of the capitals main thoroughfares could look by as soon as 2025.

European capital cities have been leading the way with major pedestrianisation projects, including Copenhagen, Paris, Barcelona and Vienna.

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Now Edinburgh’s George Street is set to have significantly widened pavements, landscaped spaces for play and relaxation and a cycling thoroughfare, where motor traffic is largely removed.

Planners hope that this will create a people-friendly setting: “By retaining symmetry and removing street clutter alongside ‘urban greening’ through shrubs and hedging, the designs both protect the area’s heritage and enhance the environment.”

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The improvements are part of a wider package of proposals for an Edinburgh city centre transformation which includes improvements from the Meadows to George Street and a west-to-east link scheme.

With joined-up thinking and planning, a City Mobility Plan is set to overhaul transport and mobility in the Capital to deliver a sustainable, inclusive, net-zero future.

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If everything goes to plan and the design is approved, construction work on the George Street scheme will begin in 2023, with the aim to complete in 2025.

The project is estimated to cost £32m, with £20m coming from the Scottish government agency Transport Scotland via Sustrans.

I for one think the scheme is hugely exciting and fit for a city aspiring to be the capital of an independent EU member state.

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