Developer Contributions Supplementary Guidance

1. The Green Blue Network is made up of Edinburgh’s green and blue features and spaces. It is an integral part of the urban fabric and is essential for our wellbeing, biodiversity and climate resilience.  Open space and places for recreation and sport as well as formal and informal play are also an important part of Edinburgh’s Green Blue Network.  

2. Public realm facilitates positive social interactions and contributes towards the success of a place. Edinburgh has plans to improve the quality of public realm in the city through enhanced policy and guidance. Plans to transform the City Centre that put people not cars first will see improvements to the public realm across key streets including George Street and Princes Street. Improving the setting, attractiveness and making streets more comfortable, enhances the overall positive user experience leading to increased spend time and economic activity. 

3. Policy 20 requires local development plans to identify opportunities to enhance and expand blue green infrastructure assets and networks. Development proposals will be only be supported where it can be demonstrated it would not result in or exacerbate a deficit in blue or green infrastructure provision and that the overall integrity of the network will be maintained.  NPF4 notes that the Open Space Strategy should inform this. 

Policy Context 

4. NPF 4 Policy 21 notes that LDPs should identify sites for sports, play and outdoor recreation and can be incorporated as part of enhancing and expanding blue and green infrastructure. Sports, play and outdoor recreation should be based on an understanding of the needs and demand in the community and informed by the planning authority’s Play Sufficiency Assessment and Open Space Strategy 

5. City Plan 2030 Policy Inf 3 criterion d) requires proposals to deliver or contribute towards green blue network actions, including Part 4, Table 1 and public realm where identified for the town centres or projects delivering the Council’s City Centre Transformation. 

6. Policy Env 6 Green Blue Infrastructure explains how proposals must protect, enhance and link to the city’s green/blue network. Paragraph 3.108 states: Where it is demonstrated that fully delivering green blue infrastructure on-site is not possible, then the Council may require proportionate contributions toward the delivery of additions and/or improvements to the green blue network off-site. As such, contributions could be taken, in line with City Plan Policy Inf 3 criterion d) towards Green Blue Network actions, including proposals in Table 1 (BNG 1-50) 

7. Providing good quality accessible and multifunctional open space in new development is crucial for placemaking and well-being. City Plan Policy Env 31 Useable Open Space in new Development and Env 32 Useable Communal Open Space and Private Gardens in Housing Development sets out the requirements for all housing proposals to provide adequate open space provision. Only in exceptional circumstances, such as conversion proposals, would consideration be given to a proposal that does not fully meet the requirements, see paragraphs 3.159 of City Plan: In such circumstances where it is not possible to provide on-site, the full open space provision, development may still be supported if appropriate provision or financial contribution is made to implement an action which improves park/opens space/green network provision in the area (or access to these), normally an identified action in this Plan (see Part 4 Table 1) and/or in the Open Space Strategy. This accords with the provision in City Plan Policy Inf 3 criterion d) and mitigates the impact of development failing to provide adequate open space within their site.  

8. To mitigate the impact of development on flood risk, City Plan Policy Env 35 (Reducing Flood Risk) requires flood risk assessments to demonstrate how compensating measures are to be achieved on and off site. In the circumstances where mitigating measures are proposed off-site these can be directly delivered or contributions made under City Plan Policy Inf 3 criterion d) can be sought. 

9. Ensuring development has a positive effect on biodiversity is key to ensure development plays its part in reversing biodiversity loss. City Plan Policy Env 37 (Designing-in Positive Effects for Biodiversity) seeks that improvements and measures are within the site, however paragraph 3.183 explains that on-site deficiencies that are demonstrated to be unachievable on site may instead be achieved through developer contributions to the off-site delivery of identified actions. 

Evidence base  

10. As noted in the policy context section above, contributions will be required if it is demonstrated that acceptable levels of provision cannot be achieved on-site. As a result, the evidence base for contributions is rooted in need of different types of Green Blue Infrastructure on-site.  

11. There is range of evidence for the policy requirements for each main type of Green Blue Infrastructure. Where a level of betterment is needed this is for two main reasons: the increasingly severe effects of climate change and the nature crises. In addition there continues to be a need for Green Blue Infrastructure to provide wellbeing, health and recreational benefits for people.  

12. Part 2 of City Plan provides further context, rationale and evidence behind City Plan’s green blue policy requirements. This evidence has also informed the identification of different types of Green Blue Network proposals.  A summary of some of the key evidence is set out below. 

13. The Vision for Water Management and City Plan’s Strategic Flood Risk Appraisal have provided important information relating to managing flood risk and water management. This will be supported further ongoing work relating to the Green Blue Network project, Climate Ready Edinburgh and associated Climate Change Risk Assessment, Surface Water Management Plan and Coastal Change Adaptation Plan. These shall provide further information in relation to water management but also the wider impacts of climate change on Edinburgh and the actions identified in response to this. 

14. Edinburgh’s Biodiversity Action Plan as well as ongoing and forthcoming work such as the Green Blue Network project, Edinburgh’s Nature Network and Thriving Greenspaces will continue to provide a basis for policy and proposal development both in City Plan and going forward in relation to biodiversity and the nature crisis.   

15. In addition to City Plan, the Council’s Open Space Strategy and Play Sufficiency Assessment appraise how well served different parts of Edinburgh area by spaces and facilities for play, recreation and sport. These documents also set out where new and upgraded spaces and facilities are needed. Going forward, updates to the Council’s Pitches Strategy and Physical Activity and Sports Strategy are expected to also be important for understanding and informing future provision. 

16. The Edinburgh Design Guidance and work supporting this has advanced the Council’s understanding on practicable levels of tree planting within development sites. This shall inform tree canopy coverage targets set out the Design Guidance however going forward an updated Forestry and Woodland Strategy will also be an important part of the evidence base for identifying proposals for trees and woodland planting.