Cockburn Association - Edinburgh Civic Trust

24/06/2026

Award-winning sensory garden designed by Leith resident opens in Victoria Park

The garden, which won a four award at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Flower Show, is inspired by Scotland’s links to Scandinavia

19/06/2026

Data Centres, Green Claims and Edinburgh's Western Edge

Data centres are becoming an increasingly important part of modern life, supporting everything from cloud computing and artificial intelligence to public services and business activity.

But where should they go? How should their environmental impacts be assessed? And what does a genuinely "green" data centre look like?

A new Cockburn Association blog explores the growing debate around large-scale data centre proposals in and around Edinburgh, examining questions of energy demand, water use, landscape impact, planning policy and community benefit.

The issue extends far beyond Edinburgh. As Scotland seeks to attract digital investment, communities across the country are beginning to ask similar questions about how new infrastructure can be delivered in a way that supports both economic growth and environmental responsibility.

Read the full blog here:

https://tinyurl.com/bd9wty58

18/06/2026

A 'significant barrier for wheelchair users' remains in most Edinburgh green spaces

New calls have been made to improve wheelchair access in Edinburgh's parks, with proposals to introduce mats or mesh pathways across grassy…

16/06/2026

Silvan House, Corstorphine Road – hotel proposal (26/02180/FUL)**

A proposal has been submitted to convert Silvan House into a hotel (Ref. 26/02180/FUL)

While the reuse of existing buildings can be positive, this raises concerns about the continued loss of employment space and the growing spread of visitor accommodation beyond the city centre.

Given this prominent gateway location, careful consideration is needed around character, transport impacts and cumulative change across the city.

View and comment here:

https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage

🗣️ Thoughts on the ongoing expansion of hotel uses across Edinburgh?

Image: Planning Application

16/06/2026

181 Pleasance: office to aparthotel proposal

A planning application has been lodged to convert offices at 181 Pleasance into a 23‑unit aparthotel (Ref: 26/02219/FUL).

While the adaptation of existing buildings can be welcome, this proposal sits within an area already under considerable pressure from visitor accommodation. The incremental shift from everyday uses to short‑stay provision continues to erode the mixed, lived‑in character that sustains the Southside.

Questions remain about the cumulative impact of such developments—on housing availability, local services, and the amenity of residents. These are not isolated proposals; they form part of a wider trend that demands careful scrutiny.

We will be reviewing the application in detail, including its design, operation and contribution to the wider neighbourhood. Edinburgh’s planning decisions must prioritise a balanced, resilient city—not one increasingly given over to transient use.

The application can be viewed, and comments submitted, via the Council’s planning portal.

https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage

Image: Planning Application

12/06/2026

What kind of city do we want Edinburgh to be?

Recent discussions at the Edinburgh Civic Forum explored some of the biggest questions facing the capital, including City Plan 2040, the future of Princes Street and the Waverley Valley, and how communities can play a meaningful role in shaping the city's future.

Edinburgh's success has always depended on balancing change with the qualities that make the city distinctive, liveable and loved. As new plans and consultations emerge, there is a real opportunity for residents, community groups and organisations to help shape the next chapter of the city's story.

Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/mpdw2veb

12/06/2026

A listed townhouse at 46 Charlotte Square is the subject of a new application for listed building consent, proposing internal alterations to form a short-term let at this prominent city centre address.

The application (26/02313/LBC) relates solely to changes within the building. These include the reconfiguration of existing office space, alongside the installation of en-suite facilities and a kitchen, reshaping part of the property for visitor accommodation. No external alterations are proposed, but as an A-listed building within the New Town Conservation Area, even internal works require careful scrutiny.

Charlotte Square is one of Edinburgh’s most recognisable Georgian set pieces, and changes here—however contained—carry wider significance. Listed building consent rightly focuses on the impact of works on historic fabric, plan form and architectural character. Details such as room layouts, original features and servicing interventions will therefore be key considerations in assessing this proposal.

At the same time, the question of use cannot be entirely separated from that discussion. The shift from office accommodation to short-term letting reflects ongoing pressures within the city centre, where tourism, commercial activity and residential life intersect in complex ways.

This is not a large-scale redevelopment, but its significance lies in its location, heritage status and proposed use. Incremental changes across the New Town can, over time, have a lasting effect on both its fabric and its character as a living part of the city.

The application is currently awaiting assessment by the City of Edinburgh Council.

Details:

https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage

12/06/2026

Luxury short-term let proposed yards from First Minister’s residence in Edinburgh

Plans have been lodged that could see a new short-term let, just yards from the first minister’s official residence

12/06/2026

'She deserves to be celebrated': New bid to honour leader of the Edinburgh Seven

Gillian Brett wants Sophia Jex-Blake to be remembered

12/06/2026

A new planning application has been lodged for 229 Willowbrae Road, proposing a hotel development with a ground-floor commercial unit, along with landscaping, parking and associated works.

This is a prominent site on one of the key approaches to the city, sitting at the edge of established residential areas and within sight of some of Edinburgh’s most valued landscapes. Developments here don’t just shape a single plot—they influence how we experience the wider setting of the city.

As ever, the detail will matter. Questions around design quality, scale, transport impact and landscape setting will be crucial in determining whether this proposal contributes positively to its surroundings.

There are currently opportunities for public comment, and we’d encourage anyone with an interest in the future of this part of Edinburgh to take a closer look and make their views known.
We’ll be following this one closely.

Details:

https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage