North Edinburgh Connections (walking, wheeling and cycling)

The estimated cost of the project is £8 million and is part of larger investment in the local area linking to other developments.

• Granton Waterfront
• Pennywell and Muirhouse regeneration
• Drylaw Shops
• West Pilton Park

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Who is delivering the project?

The project is being delivered by City of Edinburgh Council and consultants, AECOM.

What has been consulted on so far?

Consultation was undertaken between 2019 and 2023 on previous design stages, RIBA Stage 0-2 (Concept Design),  which has greatly influenced the work being undertaken during this stage RIBA Stage 3 (Spatial Coordination).

What sort of interventions will you be looking at?

The project is proposing improvements to walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure in the Muirhouse and West Pilton areas with a focus on West Granton Road, Pennywell Road, and Ferry Road. The infrastructure being considered in these concept designs is:

• bi-directional cycle tracks,
• uni-directional cycle tracks,
• mixed traffic streets,
• controlled and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings,
• improved footpaths,
• bus stop improvements; and
• improvements to green spaces.

The project looks to design infrastructure that will stand the test of time which means providing a design that is high quality, safe, comfortable and accessible for many different types of use

What is a mixed traffic street?

A mixed traffic street is a road that is shared by different types of road users, in the case of this project, cyclists and vehicles. The mixed traffic street will include road safety measures such as road markings, road humps and carriageway narrowing to allow cyclists to take a primary position on the road.

How is the project funded?

This project is being funded by Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund Tier 2 (ATIF).

Could this money be spent on something else?

No. This funding comes from a Scottish Government central fund for active travel.

Does the project meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010?

The project is legally required to comply with the Equality Act 2010 and our Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) will be updated at every stage to ensure this. 

How will cyclists, pedestrians, and wheelchair users be considered and prioritised in the proposals?

The intention of these active travel improvements is to create safe and accessible routes for all, including those who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs and/or adaptive bikes.

The designs have been produced in line with:

• Cycling by Design
• the Traffic Signs Manual
• the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions
• Design Manual for Roads and Bridges
• Edinburgh Council’s Street Design Guidance

This is to ensure that the designs will be safe and accessible for all road users. This includes cycle lanes wide enough for accessible bikes such as tandems, smooth and level surfaces for wheelchair users, appropriate tactiles for the visually impaired, and appropriate locations of street furniture and signage to provide efficient use without interfering with accessibility of the route.

Designs will look to improve crossing points and other measures such as raised tables to give pedestrians and cyclists priority when crossing side-junctions, making crossing side-junctions along the route easier and more accessible.

Raised tables are sections of road that are at the same level as the pavement so that there is no step down and so that vehicles are encouraged to slow down and observe the highway code by letting people cross. They are only appropriate and proposed in certain situations. When raised tables are not appropriate other crossing aids such as island crossings and toucan crossings will be provided making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists to cross at key points along the route.  

Will the need for cycle parking be considered?

This phase of works will look at improving the greenspace and landscaping of the project area, this will include looking at aspects such as street furniture, places for people and cycle parking.

How can I safely access the new routes when my street and the connecting routes are unsafe for cycling at the moment?

This route provides connectivity to existing quiet routes 11 and 12 and existing cycling infrastructure on Muirhouse Parkway. The long-term plan for the council is to create an integrated and comprehensive cycling network across the city, this project will provide the cornerstone for future active travel infrastructure in the north of Edinburgh.

What are the impacts of on street parking as a result of the proposals?

The project will consider integration with parking, loading and accesses to ensure that residents, visitors and local businesses that are dependant on vehicular access to the area are not restricted by the project.

What effects will the proposals have on businesses?

We are aiming to improve walking, cycling and wheeling in the area, improving pedestrian, wheelchair and cyclist movement to shops and local businesses, and between different shops and businesses, is an important part of this.

We expect well-connected destinations to attract people to use the amenities and create a more vibrant and prosperous area for businesses. There is evidence from other schemes that improving public spaces can boost retail sales, and that cycle parking delivers five times the retail spend per square metre than the same area of car parking.

Will buses be impacted by the proposals?

Buses will be able to operate as they do now. The proposals will not mean any changes to services are needed. The project will look to provide improvements to existing bus stops and bus routes to make sustainable transport as a whole more attractive in the area encouraging sustainable travel for both short and longer journeys to and from the project area.

How will the project effect drainage in the area?

A review of the project area has been carried out to identify opportunities for drainage improvements. Through conversations between AECOM and the City of Edinburgh council the following drainage principles will be considered while designing this project:

• Standard gully pots used where possible
• Avoidance of high maintenance drainage techniques such as ACO channels, Slot drains, Nib Nobblers and drainage kerbs
• Development of SuDS

What are SuDS?

SuDS are Sustainable Drainage Systems, which are a natural approach to managing rainwater through the use of rain gardens, permeable paving tree pits and other sustainable measures. SuDS help to reduce the pressure on the drainage system by slowing, storing and filtering rainwater naturally, improving water quality and reducing the risk of flooding.

Does the project consider the planned developments and planning proposals in the area?

Yes, the project is linked into adjacent developments such as the Drylaw Shops, Pennywell Housing, Granton Waterfront and West Pilton Park. This project is being delivered as part of this wider investment in the area.

What is the timescale for this project?

Assuming ATIF funding can be acquired over the coming financial years, it is expected that the final design stage (RIBA Stage 4) will be completed in in late summer 2027. Following completion of the designs, contractor procurement can begin. Construction is likely to be delivered in phases.