Consultation and Engagement Hub

We wanted to hear your views on design proposals for restoring Lindsay Road Bridge in Newhaven. The bridge has been closed to all users since November 2021 due to its poor condition.

Prior to its closure, the bridge was used as a link for walking, wheeling and cycling between North Fort Street and Lindsay Road. It was also used in recent years as a community space and outdoor seating area. A community-backed project painted the bridge in rainbow colours in August/September 2021, which led to the bridge being referred to locally as the ‘Pride’ or ‘Rainbow’ Bridge.

A project to design a replacement bridge deck and community space has been funded Sustrans Places for Everyone Fund. The design aims to:

• re-establish a direct, safe and segregated active travel route for commuters, local residents and businesses;
• restore a well-used community space; and
• reinstate an important LGBTQ+ landmark.

To ensure the project meets the needs of the community, consultation on the proposals took place between 22 February 2024 and 4 April 2024. People were invited to share their views via an online survey, two public information/drop-in sessions and a Youth Group Meeting hosted by LGBT Youth Scotland. There were also discussions with a range of consultees and stakeholders.

The consultation was advertised via social media, press releases, local advertising and leaflet drops.

There were 910 responses to the online survey, with 179 people attending the information sessions.

• 77% of the survey respondents felt that they would likely walk or wheel more short journeys due to the proposals.
• There was a positive response to the plans to restore an accessible active travel route, create an improved public realm and maintain the LGBTQ+ artwork and symbolism.
• The bridge continuing to be used as a community space was strongly supported. The online survey highlighted that environmental features (72.97%) and meeting spaces with seating and planting (70.66%) would be valued.
• There were requests for artwork or interpretation boards related to the bridge’s history or LGBTQ+ theme, which could enhance the bridge's aesthetics and functionality. History plaques documenting the history of the bridge were also a popular feature highted by the online survey (73.19%).
• A preferred parapet design option was chosen by respondents to the online survey.
• Concerns of the impact of the pride/rainbow surfacing on users who are neurodivergent or have neurodegenerative conditions were raised. It was also noted that the colour scheme does not match the order of the Progress Pride flag.
• Concerns were raised about the potential tree losses and impact on green spaces due to the project.
• There were also concerns about relocating the sports court to accommodate the amphitheatre/stepped access.
• Lighting was highlighted as an important feature to be included in the design.

Based on the feedback received, we have revised the design proposals. The main changes are:

• Proposed changes to ‘Pride’ surfacing including the corrected colour order.
• Reduced sized amphitheatre/steps, which will reduce its impact on greenspace and avoid the need to relocate the sports courts, while still providing an enlarged community space/seating area.
• A ramp access will not be progressed, which would have had a significant impact on greenspace and result in the loss of several trees.
• Existing ramped accesses can still be utilised.
• The chosen parapet design from the online survey will be used.
• Lighting will be provided.
• Any tree losses will be minimised. Additional planting and environment features such as bird/bat boxes will be included in the design.

The next steps are:

• Complete design of proposals.
• Further consultation with the community, accessibility organisations and specialist agencies to ensure the ‘Pride’ surfacing is aesthetically pleasing and inclusive.
• Further consultation with the community to create interpretation boards, which was a key outcome from this engagement.
• Apply for planning permission for the design.
• Apply to Transport Scotland for construction funding (Expected 2025).

We have been developing designs to improve five junctions along the Roseburn to South Gyle route (Quiet Route 9), focussing on three sites in the Balgreen area - sites H, I and J.

With these improvements we aimed to:

• make the streets safer and easier to use for anyone walking, wheeling or cycling
• connect to other routes in the area, including the City Centre West to East Link and the Roseburn to Union Canal link.

We asked for your views on the proposals to help us shape final designs.

We received 779 responses.

There was support for:

• enhancing crossings for pedestrians and cyclists
• potentially reducing traffic speeds
• enhancing the public realm.

There concerns raised about:

• cost of construction and maintenance
• perceived low priority/necessity of the proposed work
• displacement of traffic to other parts of the neighbourhood
• additional pressure on parking spaces, especially during events at Murrayfield Stadium.

While support did vary, the majority of comments received were either opposed or strongly opposed to the proposed improvements at all three sites.

We have listened to your feedback and taken into account the Our Future Streets: a circulation plan for Edinburgh, which was agreed by our Transport and Environment Committee earlier this year.

With wider plans for improvements along the A8, from Roseburn to Maybury roundabout, we have decided to indefinitely suspend any further work on developing these proposals and re-allocate resources to other projects. The work completed to date will be filed to ensure it is available to support any future developments at these locations.

Every year the City of Edinburgh Council’s housing rent consultation gathers tenant views on their experience of the housing service and presents options for setting the next year’s rent levels.

This year tenants were presented with three rent increase options: 4.1%, 5.0% and 8.4%.  The consultation explained the impact the different options would have on delivery of key commitments, including meeting Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing 2 (EESSH2) and our ability to build new homes.

In addition, we also asked whether tenants would agree with a higher rent ‘premium’ being charged for newly built and/or newly modernised social rented homes.

With many tenants experiencing increased financial pressures as a result of the pandemic and recent cost-of-living crisis, the consultation also asked about tenants’ experiences when seeking advice and support to pay their rents and suggestions for improvement.

We received 1,159 responses through our online and postal survey.  This was the highest number of responses ever received and was a 160% increase from the previous high of 445 received for the 2022/23 budget consultation. 

We also received 1,000 responses through a dedicated telephone survey of randomly selected tenants, who were asked the same rent related questions as those in the online and postal survey. 

After the removal of duplicated entries from tenants who responded through the online/postal survey as well as the commissioned phone survey, just under 2,100 (around 10% of all tenants) responses were considered. It should be noted that not all tenants answered all of the questions.

Of the three rent increase options consulted on, around two thirds of respondents (66%) voted for a 4.1% per year rent increase for the next five years, 25% of respondents voted for a 5.0% per year rent increase for the next five years, and 9% voted for 8.4% per year rent increase for the next five years.

Comments from tenants showed that there was understanding of the need to increase rents to pay for the increased costs. However, financial pressure from the cost-of-living crisis and affordability remained a concern to some tenants. Some tenants felt that rent should only be increased if the standards of homes, repairs and services were improved.

Nearly 60% of the respondents agreed that the Council should consider charging a higher rent for new built homes (26%), newly modernised homes (3%) or both new built and newly modernised homes (29%). While there was general support for continuing investment on building new homes, tenants believed investment priority should be given to improving existing homes.

The rent consultation also found that just over a third (34%) of the respondents had found it more difficult to pay their rent over the last 12 months, but only 42% of them had sought advice or help to assist with paying the rents.  For those who had sought advice or help, the majority (55%) were very or fairly satisfied that the assistance they received met their needs. Tenants commented that it was important to promote the advice and support available regularly and that the information needed to be more accessible.

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget Strategy 2024/25 - 2028/29 was considered by City of Edinburgh Council at its budget meeting on 22 February 2024.

After two years of rent freezes followed by a 3% rent increase last year, officers recommended that rents be increased by 8.4% in 2024/25 (year one of a five-year rent strategy; requiring annual increases of 8.4% for the subsequent four years).  This was in order to deliver the pre-Covid investment plan and ensure the HRA remained in a healthy financial position.

Council agreed a 7% rent increase for each of the next five years in 2024/25 to 2028/29, with an assumption that 7% a year rent increase over the following five years would also be required to achieve the outputs indicated in the draft ten-year capital investment programme – to bring all Council homes up to Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing 2 (EESSH2) standards over the lifetime of the business plan and deliver 3,560 new social rented homes over the next ten years.

Council also approved the continuation of the Tenant Hardship Fund to support tenants experiencing financial hardship, including those who cannot access benefits.