Reviewing Edinburgh’s Landscape Designations Presentation and discussion Susanne Underwood and Carol Anderson

Overview Background Study aims Detailed requirements Defining the scope of the work Undertaking the study The Edinburgh Landscape Character Assessment Identifying Edinburgh’s candidate Special Landscape Areas Findings Summary of change proposed Statements of Importance Policy recommendations Consultation Next steps

Background

Study aims

Detailed requirements

Defining the scope of the work

Undertaking the study

The Edinburgh Landscape Character Assessment

Identifying Edinburgh’s candidate Special Landscape Areas

Findings

Summary of change proposed

Statements of Importance

Policy recommendations

Consultation

Next steps

Background Study aims: To prepare a landscape character assessment for City of Edinburgh To review local landscape designations in line with SNH and HS guidance

Study aims:

To prepare a landscape character assessment for City of Edinburgh

To review local landscape designations in line with SNH and HS guidance

Background Detailed requirements: Inclusion of open spaces within and adjacent to the city Consideration of cross boundary issues Consideration of identified objectives set out in project brief for evaluating local landscape designations Description of landscape character types and areas Stakeholder involvement Use of historic land use assessment to inform study

Detailed requirements:

Inclusion of open spaces within and adjacent to the city

Consideration of cross boundary issues

Consideration of identified objectives set out in project brief for evaluating local landscape designations

Description of landscape character types and areas

Stakeholder involvement

Use of historic land use assessment to inform study

Background Policy Background Policy purpose of SLA designation What is the policy purpose of SLA designation? As an accolade Is it a landscape which can be celebrated as part of Edinburgh’s identity? As a means to focus policies and objectives Is this a landscape which needs to be protected? As a tool for management Does this area need greater landscape management?

Policy Background

Policy purpose of SLA designation

What is the policy purpose of SLA designation?

As an accolade

Is it a landscape which can be celebrated as part of Edinburgh’s identity?

As a means to focus policies and objectives

Is this a landscape which needs to be protected?

As a tool for management

Does this area need greater landscape management?

Undertaking the Study The Edinburgh Landscape Character Assessment Purpose: To undertake a landscape character assessment of landscape within City of Edinburgh Council including open spaces and the peri urban environment Provide information to understand how Edinburgh’s landscape character may be conserved, enhanced or restructured as appropriate. Provides a baseline to enable a systematic review of local landscape designations

The Edinburgh Landscape Character Assessment

Purpose:

To undertake a landscape character assessment of landscape within City of Edinburgh Council including open spaces and the peri urban environment

Provide information to understand how Edinburgh’s landscape character may be conserved, enhanced or restructured as appropriate.

Provides a baseline to enable a systematic review of local landscape designations

Undertaking the Study Edinburgh landscape character assessment 15 landscape character types 75 landscape character areas Description and summary of key characteristics Landscape assessment against set criteria Typicality Rarity/uniqueness Prominence Scenic qualities Enjoyment Culture Naturalness

Edinburgh landscape character assessment

15 landscape character types

75 landscape character areas

Description and summary of key characteristics

Landscape assessment against set criteria

Typicality

Rarity/uniqueness

Prominence

Scenic qualities

Enjoyment

Culture

Naturalness

Undertaking the Study Edinburgh Landscape Character Types and Areas

Undertaking the Study Identifying Edinburgh’s candidate Special Landscape Areas Using the baseline of the landscape descriptions in the landscape character assessment; The character and qualities of the landscape are assessed according to agreed criteria

Identifying Edinburgh’s candidate Special Landscape Areas

Using the baseline of the landscape descriptions in the landscape character assessment;

The character and qualities of the landscape are assessed according to agreed criteria

Undertaking the study SLA Designation Criteria Edinburgh distinctiveness (weighted) Relative merit Scenic quality (weighted) Enjoyment (weighted) Culture Naturalness Geology and geomorphology Variations in quality informs boundary considerations (not scored) Association with adjoining character areas Importance of Connectivity Edinburgh specific qualities Contribution to historic core Contribution to setting of Edinburgh Key views

SLA Designation Criteria

Edinburgh distinctiveness (weighted)

Relative merit

Scenic quality (weighted)

Enjoyment (weighted)

Culture

Naturalness

Geology and geomorphology

Variations in quality informs boundary considerations (not scored)

Association with adjoining character areas

Importance of Connectivity

Edinburgh specific qualities

Contribution to historic core

Contribution to setting of Edinburgh

Key views

Undertaking the study SLA methodology The ratings of high, medium or low from the evaluation tables are converted to numeric scores to allow ranking of all areas in relation to the designation criteria The candidate landscapes are evaluated for their value for designation and in terms of practical considerations, support from CEC and the community, cross boundary issues and the candidate Special Landscape Areas are refined and boundaries identified.

SLA methodology

The ratings of high, medium or low from the evaluation tables are converted to numeric scores to allow ranking of all areas in relation to the designation criteria

The candidate landscapes are evaluated for their value for designation and in terms of practical considerations, support from CEC and the community, cross boundary issues and the candidate Special Landscape Areas are refined and boundaries identified.

Undertaking the study Discussion

Discussion

Findings

Findings Gains: Coastal edge at Crammond and South Queensferry Dundas (wider extent) Craigie Hill Upper Almond Ratho Hills Gogar (wider extent) Lower Pentland slopes above Currie and Balerno Water of Leith (3 sections) Craigmillar Castle The Drum Edmonstone Princes Street Gardens Castle Rock Inverleith Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens Calton Hill

Gains:

Coastal edge at Crammond and South Queensferry

Dundas (wider extent)

Craigie Hill

Upper Almond

Ratho Hills

Gogar (wider extent)

Lower Pentland slopes above Currie and Balerno

Water of Leith (3 sections)

Craigmillar Castle

The Drum

Edmonstone

Princes Street Gardens

Castle Rock

Inverleith Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens

Calton Hill

Findings Losses: Silverknowes golf course Barnton golf course Davidson’s Mains (north of Corstorphine Hill) Lennie Hill and flanking farmland at Cammo Carmel Hill and Humbie Reservoir Newliston Clifton School grounds Dalmahoy Ratho golf course Dreghorn polo fields

Losses:

Silverknowes golf course

Barnton golf course

Davidson’s Mains (north of Corstorphine Hill)

Lennie Hill and flanking farmland at Cammo

Carmel Hill and Humbie Reservoir

Newliston

Clifton School grounds

Dalmahoy

Ratho golf course

Dreghorn polo fields

Findings Statements of Importance Structure and content: Location and boundaries OS grid reference Landscape character areas within cSLA Extent (ha) Description of landscape characteristics and qualities Potential pressures upon landscape integrity Enhancement potential Other designations/interests Map

Statements of Importance

Structure and content:

Location and boundaries

OS grid reference

Landscape character areas within cSLA

Extent (ha)

Description of landscape characteristics and qualities

Potential pressures upon landscape integrity

Enhancement potential

Other designations/interests

Map

Findings Boundaries Boundaries for consultation were based on landscape character area boundaries Subsequent refinement is required to ensure SLA boundaries are robust and logical

Boundaries

Boundaries for consultation were based on landscape character area boundaries

Subsequent refinement is required to ensure SLA boundaries are robust and logical

Findings Boundary decision rules Identify where key characteristics of the landscape change and look to nearest physical boundary Where there are variations in quality within a LCA move inwards from areas of lower quality Consider the role of the physical relationship of the candidate area in relation to quality of other adjacent LCAs and in creating a ‘logical’ and cohesive area for designation .

Boundary decision rules

Identify where key characteristics of the landscape change and look to nearest physical boundary

Where there are variations in quality within a LCA move inwards from areas of lower quality

Consider the role of the physical relationship of the candidate area in relation to quality of other adjacent LCAs and in creating a ‘logical’ and cohesive area for designation .

Findings Planning policy context Reviewed National Landscape Policy Local Planning Policy within Edinburgh and neighbouring authorities Model policy

Planning policy context

Reviewed National Landscape Policy

Local Planning Policy within Edinburgh and neighbouring authorities

Model policy

Findings Other policy protection Edinburgh World Heritage Site Gardens and Designed Landscapes Conservation areas Green Belt Recreation Nature Conservation

Other policy protection

Edinburgh World Heritage Site

Gardens and Designed Landscapes

Conservation areas

Green Belt

Recreation

Nature Conservation

Findings Planning Policy recommendation: Generic SLA protection policy , referring to interpretation of policy within context of the information presented in each Statement of Importance Landscape character protection policy Acknowledgement of links to other relevant policy (GDL, Conservation Areas, recreational areas etc.) Potential role for SPG

Planning Policy recommendation:

Generic SLA protection policy , referring to interpretation of policy within context of the information presented in each Statement of Importance

Landscape character protection policy

Acknowledgement of links to other relevant policy (GDL, Conservation Areas, recreational areas etc.)

Potential role for SPG

Findings Discussion

Discussion

Summary of Consultation findings Summary of consultation findings External comments Urban edge boundaries will reflect settlement boundaries, this may include areas of land in private ownership Support protection from development provided by designation No guidance provided on policy status of ‘de-designated’ land Comment on lack of comprehensive approach across SESplan area Comment on supposed lack of conformity with Guidance on Local Landscape Designations Comment on inclusion of all of Corstorphine Hill, Mortonhall policies (included through association with Braid Hills), western flanks of Pentlands (as part of Pentland Hills SLA), whole of The Drum due to variations in quality and Gogar as an SLA

Summary of consultation findings

External comments

Urban edge boundaries will reflect settlement boundaries, this may include areas of land in private ownership

Support protection from development provided by designation

No guidance provided on policy status of ‘de-designated’ land

Comment on lack of comprehensive approach across SESplan area

Comment on supposed lack of conformity with Guidance on Local Landscape Designations

Comment on inclusion of all of Corstorphine Hill, Mortonhall policies (included through association with Braid Hills), western flanks of Pentlands (as part of Pentland Hills SLA), whole of The Drum due to variations in quality and Gogar as an SLA

Summary of consultation findings Internal comments: Relationship of Pentland Hills SLA with PHRP boundary Inclusion of cultural heritage importance in SI

Internal comments:

Relationship of Pentland Hills SLA with PHRP boundary

Inclusion of cultural heritage importance in SI

Next steps Address consultation comments Revise SLA boundaries Finalise Statements of Importance Prepare designation report

Address consultation comments

Revise SLA boundaries

Finalise Statements of Importance

Prepare designation report

Discussion

Discussion