Planning Guidance - Edinburgh Design Guidance

City Mobility Plan

This section has been aligned with the Council's 'City Mobility Plan 2021-2030'. This plan sets out how Edinburgh will connect through a safer and more inclusive carbon neutral transport system.

Glossary of key terms

Active Frontage – Ground floor building frontage designed to allow people to see and walk inside and out.

Active Travel - Modes of travel that involve a level of activity, such as walking or using a wheelchair, scooter or bicycle.

Community Facilities/Infrastructure - A collective term used to describe buildings and/or land, and the uses to which they are put, that are required; of proven value, and foster a vibrant community. Examples of such buildings, land and uses include, but are not restricted to schools/lifelong learning; green spaces; community gardens; allotments; sport and recreation; local doctor and dental surgeries; local shops; community halls; shared work/meet spaces; public toilets; and water fountains.

Density - The floorspace or number of dwellings in a development divided by its land area.

Greenspace - Any vegetated land or structure, water or geological feature in the urban area including playing fields, grassed areas, trees, woodlands and paths.

Infrastructure - Physical networks which serve development such as roads, paths, street lighting, supplies of water, gas, electricity and wastewater drainage and services for occupants of developments such as public transport measures, schools and healthcare.

Low Emission Zone - A zone in which vehicle emissions are managed and helps air quality improve by discouraging the most polluting vehicles from entering the area. Mandated by The Scottish Government to reduce longstanding exceedances of legal air quality objectives (Nitrogen Dioxide, (NO2)) originating from urban road traffic.

Masterplan - A detailed document that explains how a site or sites will be developed, usually prepared by or on behalf of the landowner, including a representation of the three-dimensional form of proposals and an implementation programme.

Mobility Hub - A local and accessible place which brings together different transport modes alongside associated facilities, services and information to encourage more sustainable travel. Can include a range of shared mobility services, click and collect and electric vehicle charging.

Open Space - Includes ‘greenspace’ (see definition) and ‘civic space’ consisting of squares, marketplaces and other paved or hard landscaped areas with a civic function.

Passive/Natural Surveillance – The natural interest and observation that occurs when physical features, activities and people are located in a way that maximises visibility and positive social interaction.

Permeable – Easy to move and pass through in several different directions.

Public Realm - The parts of the city (whether publicly or privately owned) that are available for everyone to see and use without charge 24 hours a day, including streets, squares and parks.

Street hierarchy – A categorisation of streets and routes in response to their importance in the wider street network.

Sustainable Transport - Ways of transportation that are sustainable in terms of their social and environmental impacts, including active travel (see definition) and public transport.

Walkability – The accessibility of amenities by walking.