Planning chiefs note importance of city green space amid Inch Park development plans

Locals have campaigned against possible development.

Local people campaigning for Inch Park Nursery to be dropped from development considerations. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Planning chiefs have noted the importance of green space within the city amid controversial proposals for housing development on Inch Park.

Inch Nursery within the park is listed as an option for development in the City Plan 2030, discussed by councillors at the Planning Committee meeting this week.

It is one of 23 assessment areas which could be built on to help the council reach its goal of 20,000 affordable homes by 2027.

During a consultation on the plan held between January and April 2020 there were more than 250 responses which objected to the possibility of development on Inch Nursery.

Recommendations made in the City Plan 2030 were approved by councillors at Wednesday’s meeting.

Asking councillors to approve the report, Planning Convener Neil Gardiner emphasised the importance of green spaces in the city and the impact the pandemic has had on this.

“I realise that Covid throws up a lot of issues, not least a greater appreciation of green space,” he said.

“I think we always valued green space but we will value it even more.”

He added that green space has been “paramount” to the health and wellbeing of the Capital’s children during the summer lockdown.

An addendum submitted by Green Leith councillor Chas Booth which noted the “very strong local feeling” around certain development sites was approved.

The addendum also notes that three-quarters of those who responded to the consultation favoured development on brownfield sites, which Inch Park is not, and expects this to be reflected in the draft plan due to be completed in December.

Cllr Booth said: “I’d prefer to rule out building on open space such as Inch Park now, but I hope that can be done when the draft plan comes to committee in December. I’m hopeful it will reflect the strength of opinion on this.

“There is clearly a strong appetite for change reflected in the consultation responses - planning for people not cars; brownfield not greenfield development and high energy efficiency standards all strongly supported. I hope the draft plan reflects this.”

Former local councillor Bill Cook, who has campaigned against possible housing development on Inch Nursery and nearby Moredunvale green, welcomed Cllr Gardiner’s comments and the Green addendum.

“Councillor Gardiner agreed with the Greens about prioritising brownfield sites. Fortunately, neither Moredunvale Green or the Inch’s horticultural Nurseries are

brownfield sites,” he said.

“His declaration along with his commitment to greenspace and protecting Edinburgh’s planning heritage, if followed through, should surely save both Moredunvale Green and the Inch Nurseries.

“That said, I urge local residents to continue their campaign of opposition until they have watertight guarantees from the Council that their greenspace and parkland will be saved for present and future generations.”

Many local residents said they objected to the proposals for development on Inch Park Nursery during the consultation on City Plan 2030.

“The Inch is already considered a deprived area, and the school is already over subscribed,” said Lianne Reid, 39, an Inch resident with two children, Marlow, 5, and Tallulah, 8.

“Building more houses here is not going to benefit the local community. We need something in the park which is going to benefit people and bring the community together as one.

“There aren’t masses of green spaces in the city. This is a beautiful area to live in and that’s why we live here. Green spaces are so important for the children and a lot of them around here don’t have gardens, so this is their garden.”

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