Leith Links Activity Hub

We undertook a consultation to determine the level of support for a range of proposals to be included within the Activity Hub re-development of the disused bowling greens at Leith Links. This consultation also explored feedback and opinions towards transforming the pavilion into a café, toilet and community space. Prior to the survey on our consultation hub we delivered an activity hub consultation day at the bowling greens at Leith Links where we engaged a range of groups and local people and publicised the activity hub development. Some of these organisations and groups based in and around Leith included:

• Community council
• YMCA
• Earth in Common
• Primary and Secondary schools
• Area Councillors
• Local residents

This consultation progresses the original 2022 Leith Links masterplan which proposed the re-development of the bowling greens into an Activity Hub.

We held a public consultation on the proposed designs for the Activity Hub between 6 September 2023 and 21 October 2023.  

• Over 100 people attended our Activity Hub consultation day at the Leith Links bowling greens on 9 September 2023.
• 1082 people responded to our consultation via the hub.
• 92% of responses strongly agreed or agreed with transforming the vacant pavilion into a café with community space and toilets.
• 51% of responses strongly agreed or agreed that the café should have multiple levels.
• 84% of responses supported the proposed designs for the activity hub.
• 90% of responses strongly agreed or agreed that the activity proposals suit a range of user groups of different ages, abilities and interests.
• In addition to the skatepark which was already consulted on as part of the Leith Links Masterplan, the top 3 ranked activities for the hub were a pump track/bike trail, bouldering rocks and roller rink, respectively.
• Significant themes from feedback stressed the importance of incorporating biodiversity elements, including social seating, managing noise and ensuring that the space can be used for adults as well as children.

We would like to thank everyone who responded to the consultation.

We have already considered the comments and how to reflect them in the design. Where this is not possible, we will explore how other areas of the park can be adapted to accommodate some of these suggestions.

Our next step is updating the plans to take to Planning Committee early next year. After planning consent our focus will be on securing funding to take forward detailed designs and deliver the scheme. Further updates on this will be published on www.thrivinggreenspaces.scot