Friends of Western Harbour Ponds

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Friends of Western Harbour Ponds

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Constituted community group working to protect Western Harbour Ponds, Edinburgh, from development.

16/08/2026

POSSIBLE JUDICIAL REVIEW - CAN YOU HELP?
Hi everyone. We – along with representatives from Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council and the TENOA residents association – recently took advice from the Environmental Rights Centre Scotland (ERCS) on the possibility of a Judicial Review to challenge the decision made on 11 March. This is the only option available to communities to challenge planning decisions that have gone in favour of developers. (If it had gone the other way, the developer would have had the right to appeal the decision with the Scottish Government!!!).

Initial advice from the in-house solicitor at ERCS indicates that there may be grounds for a Judicial Review. The next step would be for ERCS to instruct an advocate, who will investigate further whether there are reasonable grounds for a Judicial Review, and if so, will lodge petition papers with court for permission to proceed to a Judicial Review.

However, in order to proceed with this next step, we DESPERATELY need a volunteer to step forward and lead the process – someone who will be the main contact/'client' with ERCS going forward (they can only communicate directly with one individual). You will be given a full hand-over on the communications and discussions to date, and will be supported in the background. Fundraising for legal costs will be a shared endeavour too.

The role will suit someone with a legal background or an interest in the law, but that is not essential! What we need is someone with enough time and energy. Please get in touch by email if you'd like to know more. [email protected]

01/08/2026

‼️PAN application for the rest of the plots (incl Ponds plot)‼️

A PAN (Proposal of Application Notice) has just been filed for the rest of the plots.

The notice gives dates for two public consultation events at The Heart of Newhaven
Thurs 27 August, 4pm-8pm
Thurs 1 Oct, 4pm-8pm

As before, let's make our voices heard at these events (for what it's worth🙄).... please pop the dates in your diaries and try to come along to one.
https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TIZHCFEW00Q00&activeTab=summary

11/03/2026

Sad to say, the planning application for plot A1 has been granted 😢
It was a close vote, 5-4.

10/03/2026

‼️DM SUB-COMMITTEE HEARING - 11 MARCH‼️
Tomorrow we'll state our case for refusing the planning application for Plot A1 when it goes before the Development Management Sub-Committee for a decision. The planning officer's report is for the application to be granted, so we have work to do 💪💪

Ourselves, Leith Harbour & Newhaven Community Council, the residents association for The Element and a couple of others have 5 minutes each to speak. You can watch the webcast here: https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=148&MId=7815&Ver=4

Gareth, our Vice Chair, will be our speaker, with Stephen and Ida supporting and helping to answer any questions. Wish us luck - we'll do our very best!!

In the comments below you'll find links to the dossier of documents submitted with our objection. And for positive vibes, a pic of a bumblebee on fireweed, taken on Plot A1 last summer 😍

02/03/2026

‼️PLANNING APPLICATION FOR PLOT A1 - RECOMMDED FOR APPROVAL ON 11 MARCH‼️
The agenda for the Development Management Sub-Committee meeting of 11 March has just been published. The Chief Planning Officer's recommendation is for the application to be GRANTED. 😡We'll be speaking at the hearing and will be making the case to the contrary in the strongest possible terms. For the planning officer's report, see point 6.2 here: https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=148&MId=7815&Ver=4

29/01/2026

‼️UPDATE ON FELLING OF TREES ON PLOT C‼️

Following the post below about the strip of trees and shrubs cut down on Plot C (marked W4 below) a couple of weeks ago, we've received the following explanation via email from Forth Ports:

"We would like to update you about the vegetation clearance works at our Western Harbour development site. Unfortunately when our contractor undertook routine vegetation clearance within our development land they also cleared a narrow strip of vegetation on adjacent land that is not owned by Forth Ports.

We want to be clear that this work was carried out in error, without our knowledge or instruction, and outside the agreed area of works. While this mistake was not intentional, we recognise that the works have resulted in questions from local residents.

Since becoming aware of the incident, we have met with the contractor to establish how this occurred and have also sought independent specialist advice from landscape architects to understand the available options for the land.

We are in contact with the City of Edinburgh Council and our priority is to work collaboratively with the Council and the landowner to resolve any issues arising from the works.

Forth Ports recognise the importance of the natural environment at Western Harbour to the local community and are committed to addressing this error. We will provide further updates as discussions progress."

16/01/2026

‼️UPDATE ON TPO BREACH‼️
Earlier this week we noticed that trees and shrubs along the edge of Plot C had been felled - a breach, we believe, of the Tree Preservation Order (TPO no. 206) in place for all four Ponds plots. Below is a map of the plots covered by the TPO (with plot C marked as W4) and the felled area shown in yellow highlighter - a corridor approx 2.5-3m wide.

A number of members have reported the incident via the Council website and it's also been raised directly with the Council Arboricultural Officer who was involved in obtaining the TPO - they have told us they're investigating.

We've also been in communication with our contact at Forth Ports, as it seems possible that the felling was done by their contractor during works to clear neighbouring land belonging to FP. Our Forth Ports contact has undertaken to investigate and discuss with their contractor. We hope to hear back soon.

Address

Western Harbour View
Edinburgh
EH

Website

https://linktr.ee/westernharbourponds, https://westernharbourponds.org/

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